The Dous, having made these powerplays, would eventually gain their goals of becoming even more powerful than they were. Also in 83, Emperor Zhang, having seen that his Ma cousins were not following the law, stopped favoring his Ma uncles, and eventually sent them back to their marches. Empress Dou's brothers Dou Xian and Dou Du () effectively took over in the power structure—the first time in Han history that the empress' clan, rather than the empress dowager's clan, was the powerful consort clan. This would be a trend that would recur for the rest of the Eastern Han Dynasty and a source of corruption. In 83, angered by Dou Xian's arrogance, Emperor Zhang threatened to kill him. Empress Dou wore the clothes of concubines and apologized on Dou Xian's behalf, causing Emperor Zhang to spare him.