Chinese general Ban Chao, cavalry commander in charge of the administration of the "Western Regions" (Central Asia) during the Eastern Han dynasty, has repelled the Xiongnu and secured Chinese control over the Tarim Basin region, and led a military expedition to the heart of Central Asia.
Having fought for thirty-one years to successfully organize the territories of the Tarim Basin, he has retired to Luoyang, where he dies shortly thereafter in 102.
Empress Yin, the daughter of Yin Gang, the grandson of Emperor Guangwu's wife Empress Yin Lihua's brother Yin Shi, had become an imperial consort in 92 and quickly became a favorite of Emperor He.
In 96, Emperor He had created her empress, and the following year had created her father Yin Gang the Marquess of Wufang.
She is described as beautiful but short and clumsy, and often unable to carry out the ceremonies that empresses are to perform with physical grace.
She is also described as arrogant due to her noble heritage.
As the years passed, Empress Yin had begun to lose Emperor He's favor, particularly because she was jealous of another favorite of his, Consort Deng Sui, who had come from a noble lineage herself, being the granddaughter of Emperor Guangwu's prime minister Deng Yu.
Compared to Empress Yin's arrogance, Consort Deng was described as humble and always trying to maintain peaceful relations with other consorts and ladies in waiting.
She, concerned that Emperor He was continually losing sons in young age, often would recommend other consorts for Empress He to have sexual relations with, while Empress Yin did not.
She therefore became more and more popular.
Once, when Emperor He was ill, Empress Yin made the remark that if she became empress dowager, the Dengs would be slaughtered.
Consort Deng, upon hearing that remark, considered committing suicide, and one of her ladies in waiting saved her by falsely telling her that the emperor had recovered.
However, as the emperor did indeed soon recover, Consort Deng and her family escaped a terrible fate.
In 102, Empress Yin and her grandmother, Deng Zhu, are accused of using witchcraft to curse imperial consorts (probably including Consort Deng).
Lady Deng and her sons, as well as Empress Yin's brother Yin Fu, die under interrogation and torture.
Empress Yin is deposed, Consort Deng is created empress to replace her, and Yin Gang commits suicide.
The rest of Yin’s family is exiled.
She herself dies in sorrow, probably in 102 as well.