Emperor Cheng of Han succeeded his father Emperor Yuan of Han. After the death of Emperor Yuan and the accession of Emperor Cheng, Empress Wang became empress dowager. Emperor Cheng was very trusting of his uncles (Empress Dowager Wang's brothers) and put them in important roles in government.

Under Emperor Cheng, the Han dynasty continued its growing disintegration as the emperor's maternal relatives from the Wang clan increased their grip on the levers of power and on governmental affairs as encouraged by the previous emperor. Corruption and greedy officials continued to plague the government and, as a result, rebellions broke out throughout the country.

The Wangs, while not particularly corrupt and apparently genuinely trying to help the emperor, were largely concerned with increasing their power and did not have the best interests of the empire when they were selecting officials for various posts.

Emperor Cheng died childless after a reign of 26 years (both of his sons by concubines died in infancy; one of them starved to death and another was suffocated in prison, both the babies and the mothers were killed by the order of favorite Consort Zhao Hede, with the implied consent of the Emperor Cheng). He was succeeded by his nephew Emperor Ai of Han.