The Empress Dowager's anxiety was not without reason.
The late Emperor had four sons, so his line of heirs was not considered abundant. This had been a source of complaint for the court for a long time. Later, his sons fought amongst themselves, and two of them died in the struggle, leaving only the current sovereign, Xie Che, and his older, half-brother, Xielou. Xielou's original name was Xie Zu. He had enjoyed a period of favor and was once a popular contender for the throne among court officials.
Unfortunately, for reasons the late Emperor never made public, the throne ultimately went to Xie Che. On his deathbed, the late Emperor summoned his ministers and issued a decree, changing Xie Zu's name to Xielou.
