1. Dong Xian was a Chinese Han dynasty politician who quickly rose from obscurity as a minor official to being the most powerful official in the imperial administration of Emperor Ai within a span of a few years, and he had both the interest and the complete trust of the emperor.
One afternoon, after Emperor Ai woke up from a nap, Dong Xian was still sleeping, and Emperor Ai's sleeve was stuck under Dong Xian's head.
That was not true during the Han dynasty, and it is, in any case, clear that Dong Xian did not marry a princess.
About 4 BC, Dong Xian had by this point become a favorite of Emperor Ai's.
Dong Xian's wife was given unprecedented permission to enter and leave the palace as she wished, and she set up a residence with Dong Xian inside the palace.
Many members of the Dong Xian clan were made imperial attendants or deputy ministers.
Dong Xian then summoned Dong, who was caught by surprise and was unable to act.
Wang Mang then ordered the palace secretary to issue an article of impeachment against Dong Xian, accusing Dong Xian of failing to attend to Emperor Ai when he had been ill.
Dong Xian was prohibited from entering the palace, and was relieved of his post the next day.
The entire Dong Xian clan was exiled to Hepu and their assets forfeited to the imperial treasury.