Empress Yin Lihua - As Empress Dowager

As Empress Dowager

Empress Dowager Yin appeared to exert a moderate amount of influence on her son, but far less than past empresses dowager.

In 59, a tragedy would strike Empress Dowager Yin's family. The son of her brother Yin Jiu, the Marquess of Xinyang, Yin Feng (陰豐), had married Liu Xiu's daughter (it is not clear whether she was also Empress Dowager Yin's daughter) Liu Shou (劉綬), the Princess Liyi. Princess Liyi was arrogant and jealous, and Yin Feng, in anger, killed her and was executed. Yin Jiu and his wife then committed suicide. (However, even after this, Yin Jiu continued to be posthumously highly regarded, and was praised in a later edict by Empress Dowager Yin's daughter-in-law Empress Ma.)

In 60, at Empress Dowager Yin's endorsement, Emperor Ming created Consort Ma, Ma Yuan's daughter, whom Empress Dowager Yin had favored because of her meekness and lack of jealousy—perhaps because these traits mirrored her own—empress.

Also in 60, Emperor Ming and Empress Dowager Yin made a rare visit to Emperor Guangwu and Empress Dowager Yin's home territory of Nanyang, where they spent days in banquet with Empress Dowager Yin's more distant Deng and Yin relations.

Empress Dowager Yin died in 64 and was buried with her husband, Emperor Guangwu.