had them sent to Prince Shi. Wang Zhengjun was one of the ladies in waiting chosen. She, as the mother of his first-born son Liu Ao (later Emperor Cheng), would eventually become his wife and empress. Empress Wang was not known to have had significant political influence as an empress. Empress dowager and grand empress dowager After her husband Emperor Xuan died in January 48 BC and her stepson Prince Shi took the throne as Emperor Yuan, she held the title of empress dowager. She would outlive him as well. After Emperor Yuan died in July 33 BC, his son, Crown Prince Ao, took the throne as Emperor Cheng. Empress Wang then held the title of grand empress dowager, and she became also semi-formally known as Empress Dowager Qiongcheng (based on her father's title) to be distinguished with her daughter-in-law. She did not appear to have much political influence during the reigns of either Emperor Yuan or Cheng, even though they appeared to genuinely love and respect her as a mother/grandmother. She died in September 16 BC and was buried with her husband, Emperor Xuan. References Book of Han, vol. 97, part 1. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 25, 27, 29, 31. 16 BC deaths Han dynasty empresses 1st-century BC Chinese women Year of birth unknown 1st-century BC Chinese people Han dynasty empresses dowager Chinese grand empresses dowager