Prince Long had been born in autumn…

Prince Long had been born in autumn 105 to Emperor He and a concubine whose identity is unknown.

Because Emperor He has, during his reign, frequently lost sons due to illnesses in childhood, according to the superstitions of the time, both Prince Long and his older brother Prince Sheng had been given to foster parents outside the palace to nurture.

When Emperor He dies early 106, his wife, Empress Deng Sui, retrieves the young princes back to the palace.

Prince Sheng is older but regarded as frequently ill and unfit for the throne, for Empress Deng first creates the infant Prince Long crown prince.

The same night, he is proclaimed emperor.

Empress Deng became empress dowager.

After Emperor Shang’s brother, Prince Sheng, is created the Prince of Pingyuan.

Concerned that Emperor Shang might not live long, Empress Dowager Deng also keeps Liu Hu, the twelve-year old cousin of Emperor Shang, in the capital Luoyang as insurance against the infant emperor's death.

(Prince Hu is the son of Prince Qing of Qinghe, who was once a crown prince under Emperor He's father Emperor Zhang but had been deposed due to machinations of Emperor Zhang's wife, Empress Dou.

Therefore, he is viewed by some as the rightful heir.)

As Emperor Shang is an infant, actual and formal power are in Empress Deng's hands.

Her brother Deng Zhi becomes the most powerful official in the imperial government.

She issues a general pardon, which benefits the people who had had rights stripped from them for associating with the family of Empress Dou.

Late in 106, Emperor Shang dies.

The officials have by this time realized that Prince Sheng, his older brother, is not as ill as originally thought, and want to make him emperor.

However, Empress Dowager Deng is concerned that he might bear a grudge at not being made emperor before his brother, and therefore insists on making Emperor Shang's cousin Prince Hu emperor instead, and he takes the throne as Emperor An.

Empress Dowager Deng remains as the regent.

Emperor Shang, having died as a toddler, is not given a separate tomb, as is customary for emperors.

Rather, in order to avoid unnecessary expenses, he is buried in the same tomb complex as his father Emperor He.