in 97, empress dowager dou died. it was only at this time that officials revealed to emperor he that he was born of consort liang. he sought out her brothers and honored them with powerful posts—and from this point on, the liang clan would become one of the most powerful in the eastern han aristocracy. he also posthumously rewarded her with an empress title. however, he rejected a suggestion that empress dowager dou be posthumously demoted, and he buried her with full imperial honors with his father emperor zhang. (he also posthumously honored his brother prince qing's mother with lesser honors and awarded her brothers with minor posts.)