Emperor Huan dies in 168 without a male heir.

Empress Dou, jealous of how Huan had favored Consort Tian, has her immediately put to death.

She surveys the members of the imperial clan, and decides on the twelve-year-old Liu Hong, the Marquess of Jieduting, who then ascends the throne as Emperor Ling.

The empress dowager's father Dou Wu and Chen become the most important officials in the imperial government, and they seek to purge the government of eunuch influences.

Later in 168, they even propose to exterminate all of the powerful eunuchs, a proposal that Empress Dowager Dou rejects.

However, word of the plot is leaked, and the eunuchs, after kidnapping the empress dowager and taking the young emperor into custody (after persuading him that it was for his own protection) arrest and execute Chen.

Dou Wu resists, but is eventually defeated, and commits suicide.

The Dou clan is slaughtered.

The powerful eunuchs, led by Cao Jie and Wang Fu, became the most powerful individuals in the imperial government.