晉(jin)獻公(gong)五年(nian)(前672年(nian)),晉(jin)獻公(gong)攻打驪戎(rong)(古代少數民(min)族名(ming),西(xi)戎(rong)的一支,姬姓,在今陜西(xi)省臨潼縣(xian)的驪山(shan)),結果晉(jin)軍一戰而(er)勝,驪戎(rong)求(qiu)和將(jiang)驪姬與其妹少姬獻給晉(jin)獻公(gong)。晉(jin)獻公(gong)得到驪姬姐妹二人后,對她們十分寵愛。后來,晉(jin)獻公(gong)將(jiang)驪姬立為夫人。
晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)十二年(前665年),驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)為晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)下兒(er)(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)奚齊(qi)(qi)。驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)想立(li)奚齊(qi)(qi)為太子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi),于(yu)(yu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)賄賂晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)的(de)男寵梁(liang)五和東關嬖五,讓他們對晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)說:“曲沃(今(jin)山(shan)西(xi)聞(wen)喜(xi)東北)是(shi)(shi)(shi)晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)先(xian)祖(zu)宗廟所(suo)在(zai)(zai)的(de)地方,最(zui)好派太子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)去(qu)鎮守,而蒲城(cheng)(cheng)(今(jin)山(shan)西(xi)鄉(xiang)寧縣及(ji)周(zhou)邊(bian)(bian)(bian)一(yi)帶(dai)) 靠近(jin)秦國(guo),屈城(cheng)(cheng)(一(yi)作(zuo)南北屈,在(zai)(zai)今(jin)山(shan)西(xi)吉縣及(ji)鄉(xiang)寧一(yi)帶(dai))靠近(jin)翟國(guo)(今(jin)山(shan)西(xi)鄉(xiang)寧及(ji)周(zhou)邊(bian)(bian)(bian)一(yi)帶(dai)),是(shi)(shi)(shi)邊(bian)(bian)(bian)防要塞,最(zui)好派公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳(er)(er)和公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)夷吾分(fen)別防守。”晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)中計,于(yu)(yu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)派太子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)住(zhu)在(zai)(zai)曲沃,公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳(er)(er)住(zhu)在(zai)(zai)蒲城(cheng)(cheng),公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)夷吾住(zhu)在(zai)(zai)屈城(cheng)(cheng)。只留下奚齊(qi)(qi)與少姬(ji)(ji)的(de)兒(er)(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)卓子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)在(zai)(zai)身(shen)邊(bian)(bian)(bian),居住(zhu)在(zai)(zai)都城(cheng)(cheng)絳城(cheng)(cheng),以伺機廢掉太子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)。晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)人(ren)據(ju)此推知太子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)將(jiang)不會繼位。太子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的(de)母(mu)(mu)親(qin)是(shi)(shi)(shi)齊(qi)(qi)桓公(gong)(gong)(gong)之女,名(ming)叫齊(qi)(qi)姜,很早去(qu)世。太子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的(de)同(tong)母(mu)(mu)妹(mei)妹(mei)穆姬(ji)(ji)是(shi)(shi)(shi)秦穆公(gong)(gong)(gong)的(de)夫(fu)人(ren)。公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳(er)(er)的(de)母(mu)(mu)親(qin),是(shi)(shi)(shi)翟國(guo)(今(jin)山(shan)西(xi)鄉(xiang)寧及(ji)周(zhou)邊(bian)(bian)(bian)一(yi)帶(dai))狐氏的(de)女兒(er)(er)。公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)夷吾的(de)母(mu)(mu)親(qin),是(shi)(shi)(shi)重(zhong)耳(er)(er)母(mu)(mu)親(qin)的(de)妹(mei)妹(mei)。晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)有八(ba)個(ge)兒(er)(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi),其中太子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)、公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳(er)(er)、公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)夷吾都很賢德。當晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)得(de)到驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)之后,就開始疏遠這(zhe)三(san)個(ge)兒(er)(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)。
晉獻(xian)公私下(xia)對(dui)驪姬說(shuo):“我(wo)(wo)想廢(fei)黜(chu)太子(zi)申生(sheng),讓奚齊做太子(zi)。”驪姬哭著說(shuo):“太子(zi)被立(li)(li),諸侯都已知道,而且他(ta)數次(ci)領兵,百姓都擁護他(ta),怎么(me)能因(yin)我(wo)(wo)的原因(yin)而廢(fei)掉嫡子(zi)改立(li)(li)庶子(zi)?您一定(ding)要那(nei)樣做,我(wo)(wo)就去自殺(sha)。”驪姬表面佯裝稱(cheng)譽太子(zi),暗地里卻讓人誹(fei)謗太子(zi)申生(sheng),想立(li)(li)自己的兒子(zi)為太子(zi)。
晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)二十一(yi)年(nian)(前656年(nian)),驪姬(ji)對太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo),晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)曾夢見他(ta)(ta)的(de)母(mu)親(qin)齊姜,讓(rang)他(ta)(ta)速去(qu)曲(qu)(qu)沃祭(ji)祀(si)(si)一(yi)番,回(hui)來后(hou)把祭(ji)祀(si)(si)用的(de)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉獻(xian)(xian)(xian)給(gei)(gei)晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)于是(shi)到(dao)(dao)曲(qu)(qu)沃祭(ji)祀(si)(si)母(mu)親(qin)齊姜后(hou),將胙(zuo)(zuo)肉獻(xian)(xian)(xian)給(gei)(gei)晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。當時晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)剛(gang)好出外打(da)獵(lie),驪姬(ji)把胙(zuo)(zuo)肉放(fang)在(zai)宮中(zhong)。六天(tian)(一(yi)作(zuo)兩天(tian))后(hou),晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)打(da)獵(lie)回(hui)來,驪姬(ji)暗(an)中(zhong)派人在(zai)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉中(zhong)下毒(du),然后(hou)讓(rang)廚師將胙(zuo)(zuo)肉奉(feng)給(gei)(gei)晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)要吃胙(zuo)(zuo)肉,驪姬(ji)從旁邊阻止晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo):“胙(zuo)(zuo)肉來自(zi)遠方,應(ying)試試它。”便把胙(zuo)(zuo)肉給(gei)(gei)狗(gou)吃,狗(gou)死了(le)(le);給(gei)(gei)宮中(zhong)廝役嘗,廝役也死了(le)(le)。驪姬(ji)哭著說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo):“太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)為何(he)這般殘忍呀(ya)!連自(zi)己(ji)父親(qin)都想殺害(hai)去(qu)接替他(ta)(ta),更何(he)況其他(ta)(ta)人呢?再說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)父君(jun)年(nian)老,早(zao)晚都是(shi)要死的(de)人,竟(jing)迫不(bu)及(ji)待而想謀害(hai)他(ta)(ta)!”驪姬(ji)又對晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo):“太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)這樣做,不(bu)過是(shi)因為我和奚齊的(de)緣故。我希(xi)望讓(rang)我母(mu)子(zi)(zi)(zi)倆躲到(dao)(dao)別(bie)的(de)國家去(qu),或者早(zao)點(dian)自(zi)殺,不(bu)要白白讓(rang)母(mu)子(zi)(zi)(zi)倆被太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)糟(zao)踏(ta)。早(zao)先您想廢(fei)他(ta)(ta),我還反(fan)對您;到(dao)(dao)如今,我才知道在(zai)這件事上是(shi)大錯特錯。”太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)聽(ting)說(shuo)(shuo)(shuo)這消息后(hou),逃奔到(dao)(dao)新城。晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)大怒,就殺死太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)的(de)老師杜(du)原(yuan)款。
有(you)人對太子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)說(shuo),放毒藥的(de)是(shi)驪(li)(li)姬,讓(rang)太子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)在(zai)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻公(gong)(gong)(gong)面前聲(sheng)辯,晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻公(gong)(gong)(gong)必會(hui)(hui)相信(xin)。太子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)說(shuo),晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻公(gong)(gong)(gong)如(ru)果沒(mei)有(you)驪(li)(li)姬,就(jiu)會(hui)(hui)睡眠不(bu)(bu)安,飲食(shi)不(bu)(bu)甘。他(ta)如(ru)果聲(sheng)辯,驪(li)(li)姬必定(ding)有(you)罪(zui)。現在(zai)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻公(gong)(gong)(gong)年(nian)老(lao),驪(li)(li)姬有(you)罪(zui)會(hui)(hui)使晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻公(gong)(gong)(gong)不(bu)(bu)高興(xing),這樣他(ta)也會(hui)(hui)憂郁不(bu)(bu)樂。有(you)人勸太子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)逃(tao)(tao)到(dao)其他(ta)國家去。太子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)說(shuo),背負(fu)殺(sha)父的(de)惡(e)名逃(tao)(tao)奔(ben),誰會(hui)(hui)接納他(ta),不(bu)(bu)如(ru)選擇自殺(sha)。同年(nian)十二月二十七日(ri),太子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)在(zai)新(xin)城(cheng)自殺(sha)而死。太子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)死后(hou),驪(li)(li)姬誣(wu)陷公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)重耳和公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)夷吾,說(shuo)他(ta)們都(dou)參預太子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)的(de)陰謀。于(yu)是(shi)公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)重耳逃(tao)(tao)亡(wang)到(dao)蒲城(cheng),公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)夷吾逃(tao)(tao)亡(wang)到(dao)屈城(cheng)。
晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)二(er)十(shi)六(liu)年(前(qian)651年)夏天,晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)參加由齊(qi)桓公(gong)在葵丘舉行的與各(ge)國諸侯的盟會(hui)(hui)。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)因病去遲(chi),又被周(zhou)朝宰孔勸阻,于是(shi)在途(tu)中(zhong)返回(hui)晉(jin)國。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)病情加重,對(dui)荀(xun)息說:“我(wo)把奚(xi)齊(qi)作(zuo)為繼承人,他年齡小,大臣們不服,恐怕會(hui)(hui)有禍亂,您(nin)能擁立他嗎?”荀(xun)息說能。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)說用(yong)什么做(zuo)憑(ping)證?荀(xun)息回(hui)答說:“即使您(nin)死而復生,我(wo)也不感到有愧,這就是(shi)憑(ping)證。”于是(shi)晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)將奚(xi)齊(qi)托付(fu)給荀(xun)息。荀(xun)息擔任國相,主(zhu)持國政。同(tong)年九月(yue),晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)去世,奚(xi)齊(qi)繼位(wei)。同(tong)年十(shi)月(yue),里克殺死奚(xi)齊(qi),荀(xun)息改立卓(zhuo)子(zi)為國君。十(shi)一月(yue),里克再度殺死卓(zhuo)子(zi),并對(dui)驪(li)姬(ji)進(jin)行羞辱、鞭打一番后,將其殺死。