晉(jin)獻公(gong)五年(nian)(前672年(nian)),晉(jin)獻公(gong)攻打驪(li)戎(rong)(古代少數民族名,西(xi)戎(rong)的(de)一(yi)支,姬姓,在(zai)今(jin)陜(shan)西(xi)省臨潼縣的(de)驪(li)山),結果(guo)晉(jin)軍一(yi)戰(zhan)而勝(sheng),驪(li)戎(rong)求和將驪(li)姬與其妹少姬獻給晉(jin)獻公(gong)。晉(jin)獻公(gong)得到驪(li)姬姐妹二人(ren)后,對她們十分寵(chong)愛。后來,晉(jin)獻公(gong)將驪(li)姬立(li)為夫人(ren)。
晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)十二(er)年(前665年),驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)(ji)為晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)下兒子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)奚齊。驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)(ji)想(xiang)立(li)奚齊為太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi),于是賄賂晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)男寵梁五和東(dong)關嬖五,讓他們對(dui)晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)說:“曲沃(wo)(wo)(今(jin)山西聞喜東(dong)北(bei))是晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)先(xian)祖宗(zong)廟所在(zai)的(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方,最(zui)好派(pai)太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)去鎮守,而蒲(pu)城(cheng)(今(jin)山西鄉(xiang)寧(ning)縣及周邊(bian)(bian)一(yi)帶) 靠(kao)近秦(qin)國(guo),屈城(cheng)(一(yi)作南北(bei)屈,在(zai)今(jin)山西吉(ji)縣及鄉(xiang)寧(ning)一(yi)帶)靠(kao)近翟國(guo)(今(jin)山西鄉(xiang)寧(ning)及周邊(bian)(bian)一(yi)帶),是邊(bian)(bian)防(fang)要(yao)塞,最(zui)好派(pai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)重耳和公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾分別(bie)防(fang)守。”晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)中(zhong)計,于是派(pai)太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)住(zhu)(zhu)在(zai)曲沃(wo)(wo),公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)重耳住(zhu)(zhu)在(zai)蒲(pu)城(cheng),公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾住(zhu)(zhu)在(zai)屈城(cheng)。只留下奚齊與少姬(ji)(ji)(ji)的(de)(de)(de)(de)兒子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)卓子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)在(zai)身邊(bian)(bian),居住(zhu)(zhu)在(zai)都(dou)城(cheng)絳城(cheng),以伺機廢掉太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)。晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)人據(ju)此推(tui)知太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)將不會繼位。太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)母(mu)親(qin)是齊桓公(gong)(gong)(gong)之(zhi)(zhi)女(nv)(nv),名(ming)叫(jiao)齊姜,很(hen)早去世。太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)同母(mu)妹妹穆姬(ji)(ji)(ji)是秦(qin)穆公(gong)(gong)(gong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)夫人。公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)重耳的(de)(de)(de)(de)母(mu)親(qin),是翟國(guo)(今(jin)山西鄉(xiang)寧(ning)及周邊(bian)(bian)一(yi)帶)狐氏的(de)(de)(de)(de)女(nv)(nv)兒。公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾的(de)(de)(de)(de)母(mu)親(qin),是重耳母(mu)親(qin)的(de)(de)(de)(de)妹妹。晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)有(you)八個(ge)兒子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi),其中(zhong)太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)、公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)重耳、公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾都(dou)很(hen)賢德。當晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)得到驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)(ji)之(zhi)(zhi)后,就開始疏遠這三個(ge)兒子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)。
晉獻公私(si)下(xia)對驪姬說(shuo):“我想廢黜太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng),讓(rang)奚齊做(zuo)太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)。”驪姬哭著說(shuo):“太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)被立,諸侯都(dou)已(yi)知道,而且他數次領兵,百(bai)姓都(dou)擁護(hu)他,怎么能因(yin)我的(de)原因(yin)而廢掉嫡子(zi)(zi)(zi)改立庶子(zi)(zi)(zi)?您一(yi)定要(yao)那樣(yang)做(zuo),我就去自殺(sha)。”驪姬表面佯裝(zhuang)稱譽太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi),暗地里(li)卻讓(rang)人誹謗太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng),想立自己的(de)兒子(zi)(zi)(zi)為太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)。
晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)二(er)十一年(nian)(前656年(nian)),驪(li)姬(ji)對太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)說(shuo)(shuo),晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)曾夢見他(ta)(ta)的(de)母(mu)親齊(qi)姜(jiang),讓(rang)他(ta)(ta)速去曲沃祭祀一番,回(hui)來后(hou)把祭祀用(yong)的(de)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)給(gei)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)。太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)于是到(dao)曲沃祭祀母(mu)親齊(qi)姜(jiang)后(hou),將(jiang)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)給(gei)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)。當(dang)時晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)剛好出外打獵,驪(li)姬(ji)把胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)放在(zai)宮中(zhong)。六天(一作兩天)后(hou),晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)打獵回(hui)來,驪(li)姬(ji)暗中(zhong)派人(ren)在(zai)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)中(zhong)下(xia)毒(du),然后(hou)讓(rang)廚師將(jiang)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)奉給(gei)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)要吃胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou),驪(li)姬(ji)從旁邊阻止晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)說(shuo)(shuo):“胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)來自(zi)遠方,應試試它。”便把胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)給(gei)狗吃,狗死了(le);給(gei)宮中(zhong)廝(si)役嘗(chang),廝(si)役也(ye)死了(le)。驪(li)姬(ji)哭(ku)著說(shuo)(shuo):“太(tai)(tai)子(zi)為何這(zhe)般(ban)殘忍呀!連自(zi)己父親都(dou)想殺害(hai)(hai)去接替他(ta)(ta),更何況其他(ta)(ta)人(ren)呢?再說(shuo)(shuo)父君年(nian)老,早(zao)晚都(dou)是要死的(de)人(ren),竟迫不及待而想謀害(hai)(hai)他(ta)(ta)!”驪(li)姬(ji)又對晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)說(shuo)(shuo):“太(tai)(tai)子(zi)這(zhe)樣做,不過是因(yin)為我(wo)和奚齊(qi)的(de)緣(yuan)故(gu)。我(wo)希望讓(rang)我(wo)母(mu)子(zi)倆躲到(dao)別(bie)的(de)國家去,或者早(zao)點自(zi)殺,不要白(bai)白(bai)讓(rang)母(mu)子(zi)倆被太(tai)(tai)子(zi)糟踏。早(zao)先您想廢他(ta)(ta),我(wo)還(huan)反對您;到(dao)如今,我(wo)才知道在(zai)這(zhe)件事上是大(da)錯(cuo)特錯(cuo)。”太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)聽說(shuo)(shuo)這(zhe)消息后(hou),逃奔到(dao)新(xin)城。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)大(da)怒,就殺死太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)的(de)老師杜原款。
有(you)人(ren)對太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生說,放毒藥的是(shi)驪(li)姬(ji),讓太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生在(zai)晉獻公(gong)(gong)面前(qian)聲(sheng)辯,晉獻公(gong)(gong)必會(hui)相(xiang)信。太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生說,晉獻公(gong)(gong)如果(guo)沒有(you)驪(li)姬(ji),就會(hui)睡(shui)眠不(bu)安,飲食不(bu)甘。他(ta)(ta)如果(guo)聲(sheng)辯,驪(li)姬(ji)必定有(you)罪。現在(zai)晉獻公(gong)(gong)年老,驪(li)姬(ji)有(you)罪會(hui)使晉獻公(gong)(gong)不(bu)高興,這樣他(ta)(ta)也會(hui)憂(you)郁不(bu)樂。有(you)人(ren)勸(quan)太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生逃(tao)到其他(ta)(ta)國家(jia)去。太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生說,背負殺(sha)(sha)(sha)父(fu)的惡名逃(tao)奔,誰會(hui)接納(na)他(ta)(ta),不(bu)如選擇自殺(sha)(sha)(sha)。同(tong)年十二月二十七日,太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生在(zai)新城(cheng)(cheng)自殺(sha)(sha)(sha)而(er)死。太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生死后,驪(li)姬(ji)誣陷公(gong)(gong)子(zi)重耳和(he)公(gong)(gong)子(zi)夷吾,說他(ta)(ta)們都參預太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生的陰謀。于是(shi)公(gong)(gong)子(zi)重耳逃(tao)亡到蒲城(cheng)(cheng),公(gong)(gong)子(zi)夷吾逃(tao)亡到屈城(cheng)(cheng)。
晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公二十六年(nian)(前651年(nian))夏(xia)天,晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公參加(jia)由齊(qi)桓(huan)公在(zai)葵(kui)丘舉行的與各(ge)國諸侯的盟(meng)會(hui)。晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公因(yin)病去(qu)遲,又被(bei)周朝宰(zai)孔勸阻,于(yu)是在(zai)途中返回晉(jin)(jin)國。晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公病情加(jia)重,對(dui)荀息說:“我把奚(xi)齊(qi)作為繼承人,他(ta)(ta)年(nian)齡小,大(da)臣(chen)們不(bu)服(fu),恐怕會(hui)有(you)禍亂(luan),您能擁立(li)他(ta)(ta)嗎?”荀息說能。晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公說用(yong)什么做憑(ping)證(zheng)?荀息回答說:“即使您死(si)而復生(sheng),我也不(bu)感到有(you)愧,這就(jiu)是憑(ping)證(zheng)。”于(yu)是晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公將(jiang)奚(xi)齊(qi)托付給荀息。荀息擔任國相,主持(chi)國政(zheng)。同年(nian)九月,晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公去(qu)世(shi),奚(xi)齊(qi)繼位。同年(nian)十月,里克(ke)殺死(si)奚(xi)齊(qi),荀息改(gai)立(li)卓子為國君。十一月,里克(ke)再度殺死(si)卓子,并(bing)對(dui)驪(li)姬(ji)進(jin)行羞辱、鞭打一番后,將(jiang)其殺死(si)。