Emperor Shang's reign, like his father's before him, was once again marred by corrupt eunuchs interfering themselves in important matters of state.
Prince Liu Long was born in autumn 105 to Emperor He and a concubine whose identity is unknown.
When Emperor He died in February 106, his wife, Empress Deng Sui, brought the young princes back to the palace.
As Emperor Shang was an infant, actual and formal power were vested with Empress Dowager Deng.
[4] The officials had by this time realized that his older brother, Prince Sheng, was not as ill as originally thought and therefore wanted to make him emperor.