先世系江西彭澤人,曾(ceng)(ceng)祖(zu)父(fu)曾(ceng)(ceng)遜(xun),祖(zu)父(fu)曾(ceng)(ceng)輝。父(fu)曾(ceng)(ceng)璠,嘉(jia)靖(jing)四(si)(si)十(shi)一年(nian)壬戍科進士。曾(ceng)(ceng)省吾生于嘉(jia)靖(jing)十(shi)一年(nian)(1532年(nian)),嘉(jia)靖(jing)三十(shi)五年(nian)丙辰科進士。隆慶(qing)末年(nian),以右僉都(dou)御史(shi)巡撫四(si)(si)川,《明史(shi)稿》稱其(qi)“嫻將略,善治邊”,“蒞事(shi)精勤,多(duo)有(you)建白”。萬歷(li)元年(nian),四(si)(si)川敘州(zhou)土司都(dou)掌蠻叛亂,曾(ceng)(ceng)省吾薦劉顯(xian)率領官兵十(shi)四(si)(si)萬出征,“克寨六(liu)(liu)十(shi)余,俘斬(zhan)四(si)(si)千六(liu)(liu)百名,拓地四(si)(si)百余里,得諸葛銅鼓九十(shi)三”。萬歷(li)三年(nian)六(liu)(liu)月,升兵部(bu)右侍郎(lang)。
張(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)居(ju)正死后,曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)省吾受(shou)到牽連(lian),浙江道監察御史(shi)王(wang)(wang)國彈(dan)劾(he)曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)省吾“勾結(jie)馮保(bao),相倚為奸”,“送馮保(bao)金(jin)銀若干兩,圖謀(mou)升官”,戶科給(gei)(gei)事中王(wang)(wang)繼光(guang)疏參曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)省吾“十(shi)(shi)罪”。高拱(gong)《病(bing)榻遺言》說:“隆慶六年(nian)(nian),曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)省吾授(shou)意(yi)其門生(sheng)、戶科給(gei)(gei)事中曹大野彈(dan)劾(he)高拱(gong),并許以高官厚祿。”。萬(wan)(wan)歷(li)十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)十(shi)(shi)二月(yue),被(bei)(bei)勒令致(zhi)仕。萬(wan)(wan)歷(li)十(shi)(shi)二年(nian)(nian)四月(yue),邱橓與(yu)錦衣衛都指揮曹應龍、司禮監太監張(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)誠前往(wang)張(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)家(jia)(jia)抄家(jia)(jia),張(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)居(ju)正長子張(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)敬修被(bei)(bei)屈打成(cheng)招(zhao),供出曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)經(jing)向曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)省吾、王(wang)(wang)篆(zhuan)、傅作(zuo)舟三家(jia)(jia)轉移、藏匿財產(chan),約值銀三十(shi)(shi)萬(wan)(wan)兩。張(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)(zhang)敬修最后自縊死,臨死前寫下一絕命書(shu)(shu)。丘橓派人(ren)查封曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)省吾等(deng)(deng)人(ren)家(jia)(jia)產(chan),并將曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)省吾、王(wang)(wang)篆(zhuan)法辦,“曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)角(jiao)巾青衣,王(wang)(wang)直囚(qiu)服乞(qi)哀,中官杖之”。萬(wan)(wan)歷(li)十(shi)(shi)二年(nian)(nian)三月(yue),工科給(gei)(gei)事中唐堯(yao)欽(qin)上書(shu)(shu)要(yao)求重懲曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)省吾。萬(wan)(wan)歷(li)十(shi)(shi)二年(nian)(nian)十(shi)(shi)月(yue),籍(ji)(ji)沒家(jia)(jia)產(chan),原(yuan)籍(ji)(ji)為民,永不敘用。著有《確庵曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)先生(sheng)西蜀平蠻全(quan)錄(lu)》(北京圖書(shu)(shu)館(guan)古(gu)籍(ji)(ji)珍本叢(cong)刊,第9冊,書(shu)(shu)目(mu)文獻出版社1988年(nian)(nian)),《千弓壩石橋記》等(deng)(deng)。