晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公五年(nian)(前672年(nian)),晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公攻打驪(li)戎(古(gu)代少數民族名,西(xi)戎的一(yi)支(zhi),姬姓(xing),在今陜西(xi)省臨潼縣(xian)的驪(li)山),結(jie)果晉(jin)軍一(yi)戰而勝,驪(li)戎求和將驪(li)姬與其妹少姬獻(xian)(xian)給晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公得到(dao)驪(li)姬姐妹二人后,對她們(men)十分寵愛。后來,晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公將驪(li)姬立為(wei)夫人。
晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)十二年(前665年),驪(li)姬(ji)為晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)下兒(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi)奚齊(qi)。驪(li)姬(ji)想立奚齊(qi)為太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi),于是(shi)(shi)賄(hui)賂(lu)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)的(de)男寵梁(liang)五和(he)東(dong)關嬖五,讓他(ta)們對(dui)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)說:“曲(qu)沃(今(jin)(jin)山(shan)西(xi)聞喜東(dong)北)是(shi)(shi)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)(guo)先祖宗(zong)廟(miao)所在(zai)(zai)的(de)地方(fang),最好(hao)(hao)派(pai)(pai)太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)去鎮守,而(er)蒲城(cheng)(今(jin)(jin)山(shan)西(xi)鄉(xiang)寧(ning)縣及周邊(bian)一帶) 靠(kao)近秦國(guo)(guo),屈城(cheng)(一作南北屈,在(zai)(zai)今(jin)(jin)山(shan)西(xi)吉(ji)縣及鄉(xiang)寧(ning)一帶)靠(kao)近翟國(guo)(guo)(今(jin)(jin)山(shan)西(xi)鄉(xiang)寧(ning)及周邊(bian)一帶),是(shi)(shi)邊(bian)防(fang)要塞(sai),最好(hao)(hao)派(pai)(pai)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳和(he)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾分(fen)別防(fang)守。”晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)中計(ji),于是(shi)(shi)派(pai)(pai)太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)住(zhu)在(zai)(zai)曲(qu)沃,公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳住(zhu)在(zai)(zai)蒲城(cheng),公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾住(zhu)在(zai)(zai)屈城(cheng)。只留(liu)下奚齊(qi)與少姬(ji)的(de)兒(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi)卓子(zi)(zi)(zi)在(zai)(zai)身邊(bian),居住(zhu)在(zai)(zai)都城(cheng)絳城(cheng),以(yi)伺(si)機廢掉太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)(guo)人據(ju)此(ci)推知太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)將不會繼位。太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的(de)母(mu)(mu)親(qin)是(shi)(shi)齊(qi)桓公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)之(zhi)(zhi)女(nv),名叫齊(qi)姜,很(hen)早去世(shi)。太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的(de)同母(mu)(mu)妹(mei)(mei)妹(mei)(mei)穆姬(ji)是(shi)(shi)秦穆公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)的(de)夫人。公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳的(de)母(mu)(mu)親(qin),是(shi)(shi)翟國(guo)(guo)(今(jin)(jin)山(shan)西(xi)鄉(xiang)寧(ning)及周邊(bian)一帶)狐(hu)氏(shi)的(de)女(nv)兒(er)。公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾的(de)母(mu)(mu)親(qin),是(shi)(shi)重(zhong)耳母(mu)(mu)親(qin)的(de)妹(mei)(mei)妹(mei)(mei)。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)有(you)八個(ge)兒(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi),其中太(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)、公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳、公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾都很(hen)賢德。當晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)得到驪(li)姬(ji)之(zhi)(zhi)后,就開始(shi)疏遠這三個(ge)兒(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi)。
晉獻公(gong)私(si)下對驪(li)姬說(shuo):“我(wo)想(xiang)廢(fei)黜太子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生,讓奚齊做太子(zi)(zi)。”驪(li)姬哭著說(shuo):“太子(zi)(zi)被立(li),諸侯都已知道,而且他數次領兵,百(bai)姓都擁護他,怎(zen)么能因我(wo)的原因而廢(fei)掉嫡子(zi)(zi)改立(li)庶子(zi)(zi)?您(nin)一定(ding)要那樣(yang)做,我(wo)就去自(zi)殺。”驪(li)姬表面佯裝稱(cheng)譽(yu)太子(zi)(zi),暗地里卻讓人誹謗太子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生,想(xiang)立(li)自(zi)己的兒子(zi)(zi)為太子(zi)(zi)。
晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)二十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(前656年(nian)(nian)),驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)(ji)對(dui)太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申生(sheng)說(shuo),晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)曾夢見他(ta)(ta)的母(mu)親(qin)齊姜,讓(rang)他(ta)(ta)速去(qu)(qu)曲沃祭祀一(yi)(yi)番,回來后把祭祀用的胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)獻(xian)(xian)給(gei)(gei)晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申生(sheng)于(yu)是(shi)到(dao)(dao)曲沃祭祀母(mu)親(qin)齊姜后,將胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)獻(xian)(xian)給(gei)(gei)晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。當時晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)剛好出(chu)外打獵,驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)(ji)把胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)放(fang)在(zai)宮(gong)中。六天(tian)(一(yi)(yi)作兩天(tian))后,晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)打獵回來,驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)(ji)暗中派人在(zai)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)中下(xia)毒,然后讓(rang)廚師將胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)奉給(gei)(gei)晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)要(yao)吃胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou),驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)(ji)從旁邊(bian)阻止晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)說(shuo):“胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)來自(zi)遠(yuan)方,應試試它。”便把胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)(rou)給(gei)(gei)狗吃,狗死(si)了;給(gei)(gei)宮(gong)中廝役(yi)嘗,廝役(yi)也死(si)了。驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)(ji)哭著(zhu)說(shuo):“太(tai)(tai)子(zi)為何這(zhe)(zhe)般(ban)殘忍(ren)呀!連自(zi)己父親(qin)都想(xiang)殺害去(qu)(qu)接替他(ta)(ta),更何況其他(ta)(ta)人呢?再說(shuo)父君(jun)年(nian)(nian)老,早晚都是(shi)要(yao)死(si)的人,竟迫不及待而(er)想(xiang)謀害他(ta)(ta)!”驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)(ji)又對(dui)晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)說(shuo):“太(tai)(tai)子(zi)這(zhe)(zhe)樣(yang)做,不過(guo)是(shi)因為我(wo)和奚(xi)齊的緣故。我(wo)希望讓(rang)我(wo)母(mu)子(zi)倆(lia)躲(duo)到(dao)(dao)別的國家去(qu)(qu),或(huo)者(zhe)早點自(zi)殺,不要(yao)白白讓(rang)母(mu)子(zi)倆(lia)被太(tai)(tai)子(zi)糟踏。早先您想(xiang)廢他(ta)(ta),我(wo)還反對(dui)您;到(dao)(dao)如今,我(wo)才(cai)知(zhi)道在(zai)這(zhe)(zhe)件事(shi)上是(shi)大錯(cuo)(cuo)特錯(cuo)(cuo)。”太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申生(sheng)聽(ting)說(shuo)這(zhe)(zhe)消息后,逃奔到(dao)(dao)新城。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)大怒,就(jiu)殺死(si)太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申生(sheng)的老師杜原款。
有人對太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生說(shuo)(shuo),放毒藥的是驪(li)(li)姬,讓太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生在(zai)晉獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)面前聲(sheng)辯,晉獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)必(bi)會相信。太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生說(shuo)(shuo),晉獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)如(ru)果沒有驪(li)(li)姬,就(jiu)會睡眠(mian)不(bu)安,飲食不(bu)甘(gan)。他(ta)如(ru)果聲(sheng)辯,驪(li)(li)姬必(bi)定有罪。現在(zai)晉獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)年老,驪(li)(li)姬有罪會使晉獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)不(bu)高興,這樣他(ta)也(ye)會憂(you)郁不(bu)樂。有人勸太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生逃到其他(ta)國家去。太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生說(shuo)(shuo),背負殺父(fu)的惡名(ming)逃奔,誰會接納他(ta),不(bu)如(ru)選擇自殺。同年十二月二十七日,太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生在(zai)新城(cheng)自殺而死。太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生死后,驪(li)(li)姬誣陷公(gong)子(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳和公(gong)子(zi)(zi)夷吾(wu),說(shuo)(shuo)他(ta)們都(dou)參預太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生的陰謀。于是公(gong)子(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳逃亡(wang)到蒲城(cheng),公(gong)子(zi)(zi)夷吾(wu)逃亡(wang)到屈城(cheng)。
晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公二(er)十六年(nian)(前651年(nian))夏天(tian),晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公參加(jia)由(you)齊(qi)(qi)桓公在(zai)葵丘(qiu)舉行(xing)(xing)的(de)與各國(guo)諸侯的(de)盟會。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公因病(bing)去(qu)遲,又(you)被周朝宰(zai)孔勸阻,于是(shi)(shi)在(zai)途中返回(hui)(hui)晉(jin)國(guo)。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公病(bing)情加(jia)重,對荀息(xi)(xi)說(shuo):“我(wo)把奚(xi)齊(qi)(qi)作為繼承人,他(ta)年(nian)齡小,大臣們(men)不(bu)服,恐怕會有(you)禍(huo)亂,您能擁立他(ta)嗎(ma)?”荀息(xi)(xi)說(shuo)能。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公說(shuo)用(yong)什么(me)做憑證?荀息(xi)(xi)回(hui)(hui)答說(shuo):“即使您死(si)而復生,我(wo)也不(bu)感(gan)到有(you)愧,這就是(shi)(shi)憑證。”于是(shi)(shi)晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公將奚(xi)齊(qi)(qi)托付(fu)給荀息(xi)(xi)。荀息(xi)(xi)擔任國(guo)相,主(zhu)持國(guo)政。同年(nian)九(jiu)月,晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)(xian)公去(qu)世,奚(xi)齊(qi)(qi)繼位(wei)。同年(nian)十月,里(li)克殺死(si)奚(xi)齊(qi)(qi),荀息(xi)(xi)改立卓(zhuo)(zhuo)子(zi)為國(guo)君。十一(yi)月,里(li)克再度(du)殺死(si)卓(zhuo)(zhuo)子(zi),并對驪姬進(jin)行(xing)(xing)羞辱(ru)、鞭打(da)一(yi)番(fan)后(hou),將其殺死(si)。