During Emperor Gaozong's Reign
Liu Qixian had, at one point, served as an assistant imperial censor, before becoming the military advisor to the prefect of Bing Prefecture (并州, roughly modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). Emperor Gaozong heard of his integrity and respected him. On one occasion, when the general Shi Xingzong (史興宗) attended to Emperor Gaozong during a hunt, Shi stated that Bing Prefecture was known for its hunting eagles and that Emperor Gaozong should have Liu seize some and deliver them to Emperor Gaozong. Emperor Gaozong responded, "Is Liu Qixian someone who should be capturing eagles? Why do you treat him like this?" He declined Shi's suggestion. At one point, to observe naming taboo of the name of Emperor Gaozong's second crown prince Li Xian, Liu Qixian changed his name to Liu Jingxian (different character).
As of 682, Liu was serving as Huangmen Shilang (黃門侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng), when he was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. In late 683, when Emperor Gaozong grew critically ill, he had the crown prince Li Zhe (Li Xian's brother, who replaced Li Xian as crown prince after Li Xian was deposed in 680) take over matters of state, assisted by Liu, Pei Yan, and Guo Zhengyi. He died soon thereafter, and Li Zhe took the throne (as Emperor Zhongzong), although his mother (Emperor Gaozong's wife) Empress Dowager Wu took most of the actual powers as regent.
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