Background and early career

Li Jue was born in 784, or possibly 785, during the reign of Emperor Dezong. He claimed ancestry from the eastern branch of the prominent Li clan of Zhao Commandery (趙郡, in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei), which claimed ancestry from the Warring States period state Zhao's prominent general Li Mu. However, Li Jue's ancestry was not conclusively traceable past his fifth-generation ancestor Li E (李諤), who held a ducal title during Tang Dynasty's predecessor dynasty Sui Dynasty. His grandfather Li Guangchao (李光朝) served as a military advisor to a prefectural prefect, while his father Li Zhongshu (李仲塾) served as an assistant to the director of the iron and salt monopolies.

In his youth, Li Jue's family lived in Huaiyin (淮陰, in modern Huai'an, Jiangsu). He lost his father early, and he was said to have served his mother with well-known filial piety. After attaining adulthood, he passed the imperial examinations, in the Mingjing class, which was not considered as prestigious as the Jinshi class. When the former chancellor Li Jiang, who was then the prefect of Hua Prefecture (華州, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi), saw Li Jue, he stated to Li Jue that it was inappropriate for someone as talented as he to have only passed the Mingjing class, so he recommended Li Jue to enter the Jinshi examinations, and Li Jue passed with high scores. The military governor (Jiedushi) of Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Jiaozuo, Henan), Wu Chongyin, subsequently invited Li Jue to serve on his staff. After Li Jue later passed a special examination for those making good rulings, he was made the sheriff of Weinan County (渭南, in modern Weinan). He was eventually made You Shiyi (右拾遺), a low-level advisory official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng).

During Emperor Muzongs and Emperor Jingzongs reigns

In 820, Emperor Dezong's great-grandson Emperor Muzong became emperor after the death of his father Emperor Xianzong. That year, shortly after Emperor Muzong ended his mourning period for his father, he wanted to hold a grand feast in honor of the great generals Li Guangyan and Li Su. Li Jue, believing this to be inappropriate so soon after Emperor Xianzong's death, submitted a petition jointly with his colleagues Yuwen Ding (宇文鼎), Wen Yu (溫畬), Wei Guan (韋瓘), and Feng Yao (馮藥), urging against it. It was said that while Emperor Muzong did not accept their advice, he treated them with kindness.

In 821, the director of salt and iron monopolies, Wang Bo, increased the tea tax by 50%. Li Jue submitted a petition, arguing that the tax rate was too high, but his argument was not accepted, as Wang Bo had increased the tax in order to pay for Emperor Muzong's palace construction projects. As Li Jue's repeated advice was not accepted, he left the capital Chang'an to serve as the magistrate of Xiagui County (下邽, in modern Weinan). Later, during the reign of Emperor Muzong's son Emperor Jingzong of Tang, when the former chancellor Niu Sengru served as the military governor of Wuchang Circuit (武昌, headquartered in modern Wuhan, Hubei), he invited Li Jue to serve as his secretary.

During Emperor Wenzongs reign

Before chancellorship

At some point, probably early during the reign of Emperor Jingzong's younger brother Emperor Wenzong, Li Jue was recalled to Chang'an to serve as a low-level imperial censor with the title of Dianzhong Shiyushi (殿中侍御史). The chancellor Wei Chuhou, impressed with him, stated, "He is someone who is capable of cleaning up the government halls. Why have him just serve as someone who attacks?" Li Jue was subsequently made Libu Yuanwailang (禮部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of rites (禮部, Libu). In 831, by which time Niu Sengru and Niu's ally Li Zongmin were chancellors, Li Jue was promoted to be Duzhi Langzhong (度支郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of census (戶部, Hubu) and was put in charge of drafting edicts; he was thereafter also made an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi). In 833, he was made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau. In summer 835, he was made the deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang). In fall 835, after Li Zongmin offended Emperor Wenzong and was removed from his post, and Li Jue also offended Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wenzong's close associate Zheng Zhu by refusing to meet with Zheng, he was sent out of the capital to serve as the prefect of Jiang Prefecture (江州, in modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi).

In 836 — after Zheng and another close associate of Emperor Wenzong's, Li Xun, had been killed after failing in a plot that they hatched with Emperor Wenzong to slaughter the powerful eunuchs — Li Jue was made an advisor to Emperor Wenzong's son and crown prince Li Yong, but ordered to have his office at the eastern capital Luoyang. He was subsequently made the mayor of Henan Municipality (河南, i.e., the Luoyang region). In 837, by which time Li Guyan was chancellor, Li Guyan, who was friendly with him, had him recalled to Chang'an to again serve as the deputy minister of census. In 838, apparently at Li Guyan's recommendation, Li Jue and Yang Sifu were made chancellors with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), and Li Jue also continued to serve as deputy minister of census.

Chancellorship

Immediately, Li Jue's chancellor colleague Chen Yixing was said to despise Yang Sifu and offered to resign, but Chen's request to resign was not accepted by Emperor Wenzong. Further, as Yang advocated for Li Zongmin, who had been exiled, to be moved closer to the capital, and Chen and another chancellor, Zheng Tan, both opposed. It was said that from this point, Yang and Li Jue were often in a factional struggle against Chen and Zheng, causing Emperor Wenzong to be unable to rule on their proposals easily. Meanwhile, as Emperor Wenzong had a love of poetry, he considered establishing imperial scholar positions dedicated to the study of poetry, but Li Jue opposed, pointing out that the popular poetry at the time were stylistically elegant but devoid of content. Emperor Wenzong thus did not carry out his original idea.

In 839, there was a major argument that led to the removals of Chen and Zheng. Emperor Wenzong had praised the talents of the acting director of finances, Du Cong. Yang and Li Jue thereafter recommended Du to be the ministry of census. Chen responded, "Such orders should come from the Emperor. In the past, those who lost stately sovereignty did so by losing their authorities to their subjects." Li Jue responded, "Your Imperial Majesty had told me previously that an Emperor should select chancellors, not suspect them." In a subsequent discussion, Chen again emphasized that the Emperor should not yield authority to his subjects. Li Jue, offended, responded, "Chen Yixing is obviously suspecting that there are chancellors who are stealing power from Your Imperial Majesty. I have often requested retirement, and I would be fortunate to be given a post as an imperial prince's teacher." Zheng then stated, "Your Imperial Majesty ruled well in the first and second years of the Kaicheng era 836 and 837), while less so in the third and fourth years of Kaicheng 838 and 839)." Yang responded, "In the first and second years, Zheng Tan and Chen Yixing were in power. In the third and fourth years, your subject and Li Jue joined them. Of course, the crime is mine." He then stated, "I do not dare to again enter the Office of the Chancellors!" He withdrew from Emperor Wenzong's presence. Emperor Wenzong subsequently sent a eunuch to comfort him, and Zheng partially apologized, stating, "Your subject is foolish. I did not intend to point at Yang Sifu, but Yang Sifu's reaction shows that he has no tolerance for me." Yang responded, "Zheng Tan stated that the governance is deteriorating year by year. This does not only incriminate your subject, but also speaks ill of your holy virtues." Yang then submitted multiple offers to resign. Soon thereafter, Zheng and Chen were stripped of their chancellor posts. Meanwhile, when Emperor Wenzong discussed with Li Jue how the start of Emperor Dezong's reign was considered one with good governance, Li Jue pointed out that the problems with the late stages of Emperor Dezong's reign was that he was extracting tributes from the circuits and that administrators were therefore able to extract additional amounts beyond the tributes. When Emperor Wenzong discussed lowering the tax burden, Li Jue endorsed the idea, arguing that that was what was done under Emperor Wenzong's highly regarded ancestor Emperor Taizong and the chancellors Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wang Gui, and Wei Zheng. It was said that Emperor Wenzong appreciated Li Jue's advice, and he created Li Jue the Baron of Zanhuang.

With Li Yong having died in 838, Emperor Wenzong's favorite concubine Consort Yang recommended Emperor Wenzong's brother Li Rong the Prince of An as the new crown prince. When Emperor Wenzong consulted the chancellors, Li Jue opposed the proposal. As a result, late in 839, Emperor Wenzong created Emperor Jingzong's youngest son Li Chengmei the Prince of Chen crown prince.

In spring 840, Emperor Wenzong became gravely ill. He had his trusted eunuchs Liu Hongyi (劉弘逸) and Xue Jileng (薛季稜) summon Yang Sifu and Li Jue to the palace, to entrust Li Chengmei to them. However, the powerful eunuchs Qiu Shiliang and Yu Hongzhi (魚弘志), who were not consulted, opposed Li Chengmei, and therefore, despite Li Jue's objection, forged an edict in Emperor Wenzong's name, demoting Li Chengmei back to being the Prince of Chen, while creating another younger brother of Emperor Wenzong's, Li Chan the Prince of Ying, crown prince. Emperor Wenzong soon died, and Li Chan became emperor (as Emperor Wuzong). At Qiu's urging, Emperor Wuzong ordered Li Rong, Li Chengmei, and Consort Yang to commit suicide.

During Emperor Wuzongs reign

As Emperor Wenzong's burial was being planned, Li Jue was put in charge of overseeing the planning. As Emperor Wenzong's casket was taken to the imperial tomb, on the way, due to a pothole on the road, the wheels dropped, and Emperor Wuzong considered this Li Jue's fault and removed him from the chancellor position; Li Jue was made the minister of worship (太常卿), while the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region), Jing Xin (敬昕) was demoted to be the military advisor to the prefect of Chen Prefecture (郴州, in modern Chenzhou, Hunan). (It was said, however, that it was actually because Emperor Wuzong knew that Li Jue and Yang Sifu did not support him that they were removed from chancellor positions.) Emperor Wuzong subsequently recalled the former chancellor Li Deyu, a leader of the Li Faction (indeed, which was named after him, while the Niu faction was named after Niu Sengru), to serve as the leading chancellor. Li Jue was subsequently sent out of Chang'an to serve as the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Gui District (桂管, headquartered in modern Guilin, Guangxi) and the prefect of its capital Gui Prefecture.

Meanwhile, Qiu Shiliang, who resented Liu Hongyi and Xue Jileng deeply, continued to make allegations against them, and in 841, Emperor Wuzong, believing in those allegations, ordered them to commit suicide, and also sent eunuchs to Gui Prefecture and Tan Prefecture (in modern Changsha, Hunan), where Yang was serving as the governor of Hunan Circuit (湖南), to order Yang and Li Jue to commit suicide as well. At Du Cong's urging, as Du pointed out that Emperor Wuzong should not become accustomed to killing officials so easily, Li Deyu interceded, along with Chen Yixing (who was again chancellor by this point) and other chancellors Cui Gong and Cui Dan. Emperor Wuzong relented, and both Yang and Li Jue were spared of their lives, but further exiled — in Li Jue's case, to be the prefect of Zhao Prefecture (昭州, also in modern Guilin).

During Emperor Xuānzongs reign

In 846, Emperor Wuzong died and was succeeded by his uncle Emperor Xuānzong. Emperor Xuānzong, who despised Li Deyu, sent him out of the capital, and began to move the five chancellors that Emperor Wuzong had exiled — Niu Sengru, Li Zongmin, Cui Gong, Yang Sifu, and Li Jue — closer to the capital. In Li Jue's case, he was made the prefect of Chen Prefecture. In 848, Li Jue was recalled to Chang'an to serve as the minister of census (戶部尚書, Hubu Shangshu). He subsequently served stints as the military governor of Heyang Circuit and minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu), before eventually serving as the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu). He was also created the Duke of Zanhuang. He died in 852, or possibly 853, and was given posthumous honors.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 173.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 182.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 241, 245, 246, 248.

身世和早年經歷

李玨生于唐德宗貞元元年（785年）。他自稱出身趙郡（今河北石家莊）望族李氏在華東的分支，而這一支李氏自稱戰國時期趙國名將李牧之後。事實上，李玨的祖上從五世祖李諤起就不可考了。李諤在隋朝時封南和公。李玨的祖父李光朝任鄂州司馬，父親李仲塾擔任鹽鐵判官、兼監察御史。

李玨年輕時一家住在淮陰（在今江蘇淮安）。他早年喪父，事母至孝。成年後，他通過了朝廷的明經科考，在華州（在今陝西渭南）任刺史的前宰相李絳見到李玨後，斷言李玨的才能決不止通過明經而已，推薦李玨考進士，李玨以高分通過了考試，應河陽節度使烏重胤之邀，做了後者的幕僚。在通過書判拔萃科考試後，李玨被補為渭南尉，最後擔任右拾遺。

唐穆宗、唐敬宗時期

元和十五年（820年），唐德宗的曾孫唐穆宗繼承了唐憲宗的皇位。穆宗想設大宴表彰邠寧節度使李光顏和武寧節度使李愬。李玨以為憲宗剛駕崩就這樣做不妥，和宇文鼎、溫畬、韋瓘、馮藥聯名上書勸止。穆宗雖然沒有接受，但善待了這些上書的大臣。

長慶元年（821年），鹽鐵使王播將茶稅從一百上調到一百五十。李玨上書指出「榷率起于養兵，今邊境無虞，而厚斂傷民，不可一也；茗飲，人之所資，重稅則價必增，貧弱益困，不可二也；山澤之饒，其出不訾，論稅以售多為利，價騰踊則市者稀，不可三也。」但未被接受，因為王播正是要用加收的稅為穆宗興建宮殿。李玨屢諫不入，離開長安，做了下邽令。後來，穆宗之子唐敬宗年間，前宰相牛僧孺擔任武昌節度使，署李玨做他的掌書記。

唐文宗時期

拜相前

唐敬宗之弟唐文宗繼位初期，李玨被召回長安任殿中侍御史。宰相韋處厚評價李玨：「清廟之器，豈擊搏才乎？」除李玨禮部員外郎。遷吏部員外郎，轉司勛員外郎、知制誥。太和五年（831年），與李玨親厚的牛僧孺及其盟友李宗閔為相，李玨被升為度支郎中，充翰林學士。七年（833年），正拜中書舍人。九年（835年）五月，轉充戶部侍郎。太常少卿馮定奉命練習《霓裳羽衣舞》，和以《雲韶樂》，率樂工在庭上受閱，自己站在其中。文宗見其莊重，問姓氏，李玨答：「這是馮定。」文宗喜而召馮定升階。七月，李宗閔因得罪文宗被罷相，官居翰林學士、守尚書戶部侍郎、知制誥的李玨也因為李宗閔申辯被牽連，又因拒絕與文宗近臣鄭注交通而得罪鄭注，被貶出長安，八月，任江州（治所在今江西九江）刺史。

開成元年（836年），鄭注和文宗另一近臣李訓在聯同文宗誅除當權宦官事敗後被殺。李玨被任命為太子李永的賓客，但官署設在洛陽，後又任河南尹。二年（837年），李玨好友李固言為相，三月，召李玨回長安重任戶部侍郎，五月，判本司事。文宗姑母岐陽公主駙馬杜悰被任為工部尚書、判度支後，一直沒有謝恩，李玨奏其系在為岐陽公主服喪三年期間，並趁機說駙馬要為公主行服三年，所以士族之家不願娶公主。文宗大驚，下詔定製駙馬只需要為公主服喪一年即可。三年（838年）正月，由于李固言推薦，李玨以朝議郎、守尚書戶部侍郎、判戶部事、上柱國、賜紫金魚袋的身份和楊嗣複被任命為同中書門下平章事，擔任宰相，仍守本官判戶部事。

拜相

時楊嗣複領諸道鹽鐵轉運使，文宗因幣輕錢重問于楊嗣複，楊嗣複答：「此事累朝制置未能奏效，只可暫時禁銅，未可變法。法變擾人，最終也不能去弊。」李玨說：「禁銅之令是朝廷常典，只是行之不嚴，不如無令。如今江淮以南，銅器成肆，市井逐利者，銷錢一緡，可為數器，售利三四倍。遠民不知法令，都以為常。即使國家加爐鑄錢，何以抵償銷鑄之弊？所以禁銅之令，不得不嚴。」

李玨拜相後，同為宰相的陳夷行鄙視他，請求辭職，但文宗沒有接受，而是派使者慰勞。李玨和另一宰相鄭覃都上表請辭，優詔不許。二月，當楊嗣複通過宦官請求把被貶為衡州司馬的李宗閔遷到距京城更近的地方後，陳夷行和鄭覃都表示反對。眾臣在紫宸殿問對，陳夷行引「八關十六子」事，認為李宗閔結朋黨，免死已幸，李玨則稱罪在李逢吉。從此，楊、李和陳、鄭之間常有爭鬥，這使得文宗很難對他們的提議做決斷。李玨與李固言、楊嗣複相善，自從李固言拜相，互相為援，傾軋鄭覃、陳夷行、李德裕。每有奏議，李玨必以朋黨為謀，屢為鄭覃當廷折倒。在紫宸殿議政時，李玨讚揚文宗放宮女五百餘人事並致賀，鄭覃也稱許文宗此舉。另一次紫宸殿議政時，文宗感慨天寶年間政事不甚佳，問及當時姚崇、宋璟尚在否，李玨答：「姚崇已亡，宋璟已罷。」趁機說：「人君明哲，終始尤難。玄宗曾說：『自即位已來，未嘗殺一不辜。』卻任李林甫陷害破人家族，不也糊塗嗎？」陳夷行則趁機指責楊嗣複專權。四月，李玨罷判戶部事。八月，楊嗣複又在紫宸殿奏請給閒居蘇州上疏論兵的陸洿授官，李玨支持，並以前一天右拾遺竇洵直論事獲賞幣帛為例，鄭覃則指稱竇洵直未必心正並指楊嗣複結黨，楊嗣複下拜請辭。李玨說朋黨最近消亡了，鄭覃卻說近期又有小朋黨出現了。李玨又要奏邊事，鄭覃說：「論邊事安危，臣不如李玨；嫉惡則李玨不如臣。」楊嗣複又以自己被鄭覃指為朋黨而奏請辭相，文宗慰勉之。九月，李玨遷中書侍郎。十一月，李玨奏廬州舒城縣太平鄉百姓徐行周叔伯兄弟五代同居，請免其同籍戶稅，獲准。李玨由朝議郎進階正議大夫，十二月，上疏自請罷免，更數次請辭，不被許。文宗喜好詩文，想設置詩學士，李玨反對，指出詩人浮薄，無益于理。文宗乃止。尚書右丞韋溫與楊嗣複、李玨交好，勸他們徵用李德裕，冰釋前嫌，楊、李不納。

四年（839年）閏正月，文宗在延英殿問宰相們符讖之語，李玨對答：「喪亂之時，佐命者就說是神命；理平年代，就推說是人事。」文宗深以為然。三月，文宗對宰相們說：「朕在位十四年，天下無事，雖未至大治，也少有像今日這樣無事的。」李玨以居安思危對答。當年也發生了一場大論戰。當時，文宗表揚杜悰的才幹，楊嗣複、李玨推薦杜悰任戶部尚書，文宗在紫宸殿議論此事。陳夷行認為此事應由皇帝自己決斷。李玨則指出陛下既然任用了宰相，就不該懷疑。文宗提出韋處厚為相時三日間推薦六位度師，李玨稱韋處厚淫于奉佛，不悟是非。後來楊嗣複為此數次請辭，結果卻是陳夷行和鄭覃被罷相。五月文宗在延英殿對宰相們稱讚德宗貞元初年之政，李玨指出德宗晚年喜歡聚財導致小吏得以勒索，是弊政；當文宗提出要減輕稅負時，李玨表示贊同，並引用唐太宗的例子。文宗又問及記錄監修之職，李玨答是自己本分，陳夷行趁機指責李玨弄權，李玨又請辭為親王傅。鄭覃說：「陛下開成元年、二年政事至好，三年、四年漸不如前。」楊嗣複說：「元年、二年是鄭覃、夷行用事，三年、四年臣與李玨用事。」于是引咎辭職，並叩頭趨去。文宗令中使召還並慰勞。文宗對李玨的建議很欣賞，封他為贊皇縣男，食邑三百戶。在李固言、李玨、楊嗣複引薦下，起居舍人直弘文館魏謨進諫議大夫。李玨、楊嗣複又奏堂廚食利錢擾民煩碎，于是罷堂廚捉錢官，置庫量入計費。

三年太子李永去世後，得寵的楊賢妃推薦皇弟安王李溶為皇太弟。文宗就此諮詢宰相時，李玨反對。四年末，文宗立敬宗子陳王李成美為太子。

先前開成元年時，起居舍人李褒因痼疾請辭，文宗命選諫議大夫兼之，鄭覃推薦裴中孺、李讓夷，李讓夷被任用並進中書舍人。李玨、楊嗣複因而厭惡李讓夷，導致其在文宗一朝未至達官。

五年（840年）正月，文宗病重，命寵信宦官知樞密劉弘逸、薛季棱召楊嗣複、李玨入宮，密旨他們奉李成美監國。但當權宦官仇士良、魚弘志反對李成美繼位，不顧李玨阻攔，矯詔重新廢太子為陳王，立文宗的另一皇弟潁王李瀍為皇太弟。文宗不久駕崩，李瀍繼位，即唐武宗。在仇士良勸說下，武宗命李溶、李成美、楊賢妃自殺。

唐武宗時期

武宗即位，人們都為李玨擔憂。李玨說：「臣下知道奉行所言，如何參與禁中事？」武宗新聽政，李玨數稱道《無逸篇》以勸。時昭義軍節度使劉從諫獻犬馬，橫海節度使劉約獻白鷹，李玨請求推辭以示四方。遷太尉、門下侍郎，為文宗山陵使，奉命奉冊上文宗尊謚、廟號。在計劃安葬文宗時，正值秋雨，文宗梓宮在送往陵墓的路上經過安上門時陷于泥濘不能前進，武宗怪罪李玨，八月，將其罷相，改任太常卿，京兆尹敬昕貶為郴州（在今湖南郴州）參軍。武宗得知李玨和楊嗣複不支持他繼位，所以罷黜了他們，九月召回李黨領袖前宰相李德裕，任命為首席宰相。韋溫感慨：「楊三、李七如果聽我的話，豈至如此啊！」李玨被認為劉弘逸、薛季稜之黨，被遣出長安任檢校兵部尚書、桂州刺史，充桂管防禦觀察等使。魏謨也因被二人連累而遭貶。

仇士良深恨劉弘逸、薛季棱，不停彈劾他們。會昌元年（841年）三月，武宗相信仇士良的彈劾，命二人自殺，派宦官去桂州和潭州，命李玨和正被貶為湖南觀察使的楊嗣複自殺。杜悰勸武宗不要輕殺大臣，李德裕、再次拜相的陳夷行和其他兩位宰相崔珙、崔鄲也都在延英殿懇求。武宗寬恕了他們，留下了他們的性命，追回賜死宦官，改為遠放。李玨被貶端州司馬，再貶昭州刺史。三年（843年），長流驩州（在今桂林）。五年（845年），遷郴州刺史，與在京舊友桂管都防禦巡官試秘書省校書郎元充同游華景洞。

唐宣宗時期

會昌六年（846年），唐武宗駕崩，皇叔唐宣宗繼位。唐宣宗不喜歡李德裕，將其貶出京城，而把被武宗貶斥的宰相牛僧孺、李宗閔、崔珙、楊嗣複、李玨調近京城。次年李玨又遷舒州刺史，以太子賓客分司東都。大中二年（848年），崔鉉、白敏中徵召李玨回長安再任戶部尚書，當年十月前又任河陽節度使，罷重賦百餘萬，表河南府司錄參軍韋宙入幕府。次年李玨被召為守吏部尚書而離任時，府庫十倍于初。至次年，累遷金紫光祿大夫、檢校尚書右僕射、揚州大都督府長史、淮南節度使、上柱國、贊皇郡開國公、食邑一千五百戶。當時淮南前三任節度使都卒于任上，有人勸李玨改任，李玨以奉皇命為由不肯。李玨上表請立皇太子以安天下心。江淮旱，李玨發倉廩賑流民，以軍糧半價與人。李玨病重，在臥室見官屬，只說自己論奏本州有稅酒，而神策軍常為豪商占利事，恨不能看到回複，卻不說家事。六年（852年），李玨以淮南節度副大使知節度事、管內營田觀察處置等使、金紫光祿大夫、檢校尚書右僕射、兼揚州大都督府長史、御史大夫、上柱國、贊皇郡開國公、食邑一千五百戶的身份去世，贈司空，謚曰貞穆。

李玨性寡慾，早喪妻，不置妾侍，門無饋餉。淮南之人感激他，在他死後叩于闕下，願立碑刻其遺愛。

子

• 李階，曾任前京兆府參軍，官至度支判官兼殿中侍御史

• 李弱翁，鹽鐵判官兼監察御史

• 李潛，進士

• 李譜，字昌之，進士，兗海從事、校書郎，娶崔鉉女

• 李楷，進士

• 李愈，密尉