晉獻公(gong)五(wu)年(前672年),晉獻公(gong)攻打(da)驪(li)戎(古(gu)代少數民(min)族名,西戎的一支,姬(ji)姓,在今陜(shan)西省臨潼(tong)縣的驪(li)山),結果晉軍一戰而勝,驪(li)戎求(qiu)和(he)將驪(li)姬(ji)與(yu)其妹少姬(ji)獻給晉獻公(gong)。晉獻公(gong)得到(dao)驪(li)姬(ji)姐妹二人后(hou)(hou),對她們十(shi)分寵愛。后(hou)(hou)來,晉獻公(gong)將驪(li)姬(ji)立為夫人。
晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)十二年(nian)(前665年(nian)),驪(li)姬為晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)下(xia)兒(er)(er)子(zi)(zi)奚(xi)齊(qi)。驪(li)姬想(xiang)立奚(xi)齊(qi)為太子(zi)(zi),于(yu)是(shi)(shi)賄(hui)賂晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)的(de)(de)(de)男寵(chong)梁(liang)五和(he)東(dong)關嬖(bi)五,讓他們對晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)說:“曲沃(wo)(今(jin)(jin)山(shan)西(xi)聞喜東(dong)北)是(shi)(shi)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)先(xian)祖宗(zong)廟所在的(de)(de)(de)地(di)方,最好派太子(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)去鎮守,而蒲城(cheng)(cheng)(今(jin)(jin)山(shan)西(xi)鄉寧(ning)縣(xian)及周邊一(yi)(yi)(yi)帶) 靠近秦(qin)國(guo),屈(qu)城(cheng)(cheng)(一(yi)(yi)(yi)作南(nan)北屈(qu),在今(jin)(jin)山(shan)西(xi)吉縣(xian)及鄉寧(ning)一(yi)(yi)(yi)帶)靠近翟國(guo)(今(jin)(jin)山(shan)西(xi)鄉寧(ning)及周邊一(yi)(yi)(yi)帶),是(shi)(shi)邊防要塞(sai),最好派公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳和(he)公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾分別防守。”晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)中(zhong)計,于(yu)是(shi)(shi)派太子(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)住(zhu)在曲沃(wo),公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳住(zhu)在蒲城(cheng)(cheng),公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾住(zhu)在屈(qu)城(cheng)(cheng)。只留下(xia)奚(xi)齊(qi)與(yu)少(shao)姬的(de)(de)(de)兒(er)(er)子(zi)(zi)卓子(zi)(zi)在身(shen)邊,居住(zhu)在都(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)絳城(cheng)(cheng),以伺機廢掉太子(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)人(ren)(ren)據此推知(zhi)太子(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)將不會繼位。太子(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的(de)(de)(de)母親(qin)(qin)是(shi)(shi)齊(qi)桓公(gong)(gong)之女,名(ming)叫(jiao)齊(qi)姜,很早(zao)去世。太子(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的(de)(de)(de)同母妹妹穆姬是(shi)(shi)秦(qin)穆公(gong)(gong)的(de)(de)(de)夫(fu)人(ren)(ren)。公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳的(de)(de)(de)母親(qin)(qin),是(shi)(shi)翟國(guo)(今(jin)(jin)山(shan)西(xi)鄉寧(ning)及周邊一(yi)(yi)(yi)帶)狐氏的(de)(de)(de)女兒(er)(er)。公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾的(de)(de)(de)母親(qin)(qin),是(shi)(shi)重(zhong)耳母親(qin)(qin)的(de)(de)(de)妹妹。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)有八個(ge)(ge)兒(er)(er)子(zi)(zi),其中(zhong)太子(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)、公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳、公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾都(dou)很賢(xian)德。當晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)得到驪(li)姬之后,就開始疏(shu)遠這三個(ge)(ge)兒(er)(er)子(zi)(zi)。
晉獻公私(si)下對(dui)驪(li)姬說:“我想廢(fei)黜太(tai)(tai)子申(shen)生,讓(rang)奚齊做太(tai)(tai)子。”驪(li)姬哭著說:“太(tai)(tai)子被(bei)立,諸侯(hou)都(dou)已知道,而且他數次(ci)領兵,百姓都(dou)擁護他,怎么能因我的原因而廢(fei)掉嫡(di)子改立庶子?您一定要那樣做,我就去自(zi)殺(sha)。”驪(li)姬表(biao)面佯裝稱譽太(tai)(tai)子,暗地(di)里卻讓(rang)人誹謗太(tai)(tai)子申(shen)生,想立自(zi)己的兒子為(wei)太(tai)(tai)子。
晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)二十一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(前656年(nian)(nian)),驪姬(ji)(ji)對太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申生(sheng)(sheng)說(shuo),晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)曾夢見他的(de)(de)母(mu)親(qin)齊姜,讓他速(su)去曲(qu)沃祭(ji)(ji)祀(si)一(yi)番(fan),回來后把(ba)祭(ji)(ji)祀(si)用的(de)(de)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)獻(xian)(xian)給(gei)晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)。太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申生(sheng)(sheng)于是(shi)到曲(qu)沃祭(ji)(ji)祀(si)母(mu)親(qin)齊姜后,將胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)獻(xian)(xian)給(gei)晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)。當時晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)剛(gang)好出外打(da)獵(lie),驪姬(ji)(ji)把(ba)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)放在宮中(zhong)(zhong)。六(liu)天(一(yi)作兩天)后,晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)打(da)獵(lie)回來,驪姬(ji)(ji)暗中(zhong)(zhong)派(pai)人在胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)中(zhong)(zhong)下毒,然后讓廚師(shi)將胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)奉(feng)給(gei)晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)要吃胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou),驪姬(ji)(ji)從旁邊(bian)阻止晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)說(shuo):“胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)來自(zi)遠(yuan)方(fang),應試(shi)試(shi)它。”便把(ba)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)給(gei)狗吃,狗死(si)(si)了;給(gei)宮中(zhong)(zhong)廝(si)役(yi)嘗,廝(si)役(yi)也死(si)(si)了。驪姬(ji)(ji)哭著說(shuo):“太(tai)(tai)子(zi)為(wei)何這(zhe)(zhe)般殘(can)忍呀(ya)!連自(zi)己父親(qin)都想(xiang)殺(sha)害去接替他,更(geng)何況(kuang)其他人呢?再說(shuo)父君年(nian)(nian)老,早晚都是(shi)要死(si)(si)的(de)(de)人,竟迫不及待而想(xiang)謀害他!”驪姬(ji)(ji)又對晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)說(shuo):“太(tai)(tai)子(zi)這(zhe)(zhe)樣做,不過(guo)是(shi)因(yin)為(wei)我(wo)和奚齊的(de)(de)緣故。我(wo)希望讓我(wo)母(mu)子(zi)倆躲到別的(de)(de)國家(jia)去,或者早點自(zi)殺(sha),不要白(bai)白(bai)讓母(mu)子(zi)倆被太(tai)(tai)子(zi)糟踏。早先您想(xiang)廢他,我(wo)還反對您;到如今,我(wo)才知道(dao)在這(zhe)(zhe)件事上是(shi)大錯(cuo)特(te)錯(cuo)。”太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申生(sheng)(sheng)聽說(shuo)這(zhe)(zhe)消息后,逃奔(ben)到新(xin)城。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)大怒(nu),就殺(sha)死(si)(si)太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申生(sheng)(sheng)的(de)(de)老師(shi)杜原款。
有(you)人對太(tai)子申(shen)生(sheng)說,放毒藥的是驪(li)姬(ji),讓太(tai)子申(shen)生(sheng)在(zai)晉(jin)獻公(gong)(gong)面前聲(sheng)辯(bian),晉(jin)獻公(gong)(gong)必(bi)會(hui)相信。太(tai)子申(shen)生(sheng)說,晉(jin)獻公(gong)(gong)如果(guo)沒有(you)驪(li)姬(ji),就會(hui)睡(shui)眠(mian)不(bu)(bu)(bu)安,飲食(shi)不(bu)(bu)(bu)甘。他(ta)(ta)如果(guo)聲(sheng)辯(bian),驪(li)姬(ji)必(bi)定有(you)罪(zui)。現在(zai)晉(jin)獻公(gong)(gong)年老,驪(li)姬(ji)有(you)罪(zui)會(hui)使(shi)晉(jin)獻公(gong)(gong)不(bu)(bu)(bu)高興,這樣他(ta)(ta)也會(hui)憂郁不(bu)(bu)(bu)樂。有(you)人勸太(tai)子申(shen)生(sheng)逃(tao)到(dao)其他(ta)(ta)國家去。太(tai)子申(shen)生(sheng)說,背(bei)負殺父的惡名逃(tao)奔,誰會(hui)接納他(ta)(ta),不(bu)(bu)(bu)如選擇自殺。同年十二月(yue)二十七日(ri),太(tai)子申(shen)生(sheng)在(zai)新城自殺而死。太(tai)子申(shen)生(sheng)死后,驪(li)姬(ji)誣(wu)陷公(gong)(gong)子重耳和公(gong)(gong)子夷吾(wu)(wu),說他(ta)(ta)們(men)都(dou)參預(yu)太(tai)子申(shen)生(sheng)的陰謀(mou)。于是公(gong)(gong)子重耳逃(tao)亡到(dao)蒲城,公(gong)(gong)子夷吾(wu)(wu)逃(tao)亡到(dao)屈城。
晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)二十(shi)六年(nian)(前651年(nian))夏(xia)天,晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)參(can)加(jia)由齊桓公(gong)在(zai)葵丘舉(ju)行的與各國(guo)諸侯的盟(meng)會。晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)因病去(qu)遲,又被周朝宰孔勸阻,于(yu)是(shi)在(zai)途中返(fan)回晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)。晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)病情加(jia)重(zhong),對荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)說(shuo):“我把奚齊作為繼承(cheng)人,他(ta)年(nian)齡小,大臣們不(bu)服,恐怕會有禍亂,您能(neng)擁立(li)他(ta)嗎(ma)?”荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)說(shuo)能(neng)。晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)說(shuo)用什么做憑(ping)證(zheng)?荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)回答說(shuo):“即使(shi)您死(si)而復生,我也不(bu)感(gan)到有愧,這就(jiu)是(shi)憑(ping)證(zheng)。”于(yu)是(shi)晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)將奚齊托付給荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)。荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)擔任(ren)國(guo)相,主持(chi)國(guo)政(zheng)。同年(nian)九月(yue)(yue),晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)去(qu)世,奚齊繼位。同年(nian)十(shi)月(yue)(yue),里克(ke)(ke)殺死(si)奚齊,荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)改立(li)卓子為國(guo)君(jun)。十(shi)一月(yue)(yue),里克(ke)(ke)再度(du)殺死(si)卓子,并對驪姬(ji)進(jin)行羞辱、鞭打一番后,將其殺死(si)。