晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)五年(前672年),晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)攻打驪(li)戎(rong)(古代少數民族名,西戎(rong)的(de)(de)一(yi)支,姬姓,在今陜西省臨潼縣的(de)(de)驪(li)山),結果晉(jin)(jin)軍一(yi)戰而勝,驪(li)戎(rong)求和將驪(li)姬與其(qi)妹少姬獻(xian)(xian)給晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)。晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)得到驪(li)姬姐妹二(er)人后,對她(ta)們十分寵(chong)愛(ai)。后來,晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)將驪(li)姬立為(wei)夫人。
晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)十(shi)二(er)年(前665年),驪姬(ji)為(wei)(wei)晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)生(sheng)(sheng)下兒(er)子(zi)(zi)奚(xi)齊(qi)(qi)。驪姬(ji)想立奚(xi)齊(qi)(qi)為(wei)(wei)太(tai)子(zi)(zi),于是(shi)賄賂晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)的男寵梁五和東(dong)關嬖五,讓他們對晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)說:“曲(qu)沃(wo)(今(jin)山(shan)(shan)西(xi)聞喜東(dong)北)是(shi)晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)先(xian)祖(zu)宗廟所在的地方,最好派太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)去鎮守,而蒲城(cheng)(今(jin)山(shan)(shan)西(xi)鄉(xiang)寧(ning)縣及周(zhou)邊(bian)一帶(dai)) 靠(kao)近秦國(guo),屈(qu)城(cheng)(一作南北屈(qu),在今(jin)山(shan)(shan)西(xi)吉縣及鄉(xiang)寧(ning)一帶(dai))靠(kao)近翟國(guo)(今(jin)山(shan)(shan)西(xi)鄉(xiang)寧(ning)及周(zhou)邊(bian)一帶(dai)),是(shi)邊(bian)防(fang)要塞,最好派公(gong)子(zi)(zi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)耳和公(gong)子(zi)(zi)夷吾分別(bie)防(fang)守。”晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)中(zhong)計,于是(shi)派太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)住(zhu)在曲(qu)沃(wo),公(gong)子(zi)(zi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)耳住(zhu)在蒲城(cheng),公(gong)子(zi)(zi)夷吾住(zhu)在屈(qu)城(cheng)。只留下奚(xi)齊(qi)(qi)與少姬(ji)的兒(er)子(zi)(zi)卓子(zi)(zi)在身邊(bian),居住(zhu)在都城(cheng)絳城(cheng),以(yi)伺機廢掉太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)。晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)人據(ju)此推(tui)知(zhi)太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)將不(bu)會繼位。太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)的母親是(shi)齊(qi)(qi)桓公(gong)之女(nv),名(ming)叫齊(qi)(qi)姜,很早去世。太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)的同母妹(mei)(mei)妹(mei)(mei)穆姬(ji)是(shi)秦穆公(gong)的夫人。公(gong)子(zi)(zi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)耳的母親,是(shi)翟國(guo)(今(jin)山(shan)(shan)西(xi)鄉(xiang)寧(ning)及周(zhou)邊(bian)一帶(dai))狐(hu)氏的女(nv)兒(er)。公(gong)子(zi)(zi)夷吾的母親,是(shi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)耳母親的妹(mei)(mei)妹(mei)(mei)。晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)有八個兒(er)子(zi)(zi),其中(zhong)太(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)、公(gong)子(zi)(zi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)耳、公(gong)子(zi)(zi)夷吾都很賢德。當晉(jin)(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)得到驪姬(ji)之后,就開始疏遠這(zhe)三(san)個兒(er)子(zi)(zi)。
晉獻公私下對驪(li)姬說:“我(wo)想廢黜太子(zi)(zi)申生,讓(rang)奚齊做太子(zi)(zi)。”驪(li)姬哭著說:“太子(zi)(zi)被立(li),諸(zhu)侯都(dou)(dou)已知道,而且他數次領兵,百姓都(dou)(dou)擁護他,怎(zen)么(me)能因我(wo)的原(yuan)因而廢掉嫡(di)子(zi)(zi)改立(li)庶子(zi)(zi)?您一定要那樣做,我(wo)就去(qu)自(zi)殺(sha)。”驪(li)姬表面佯(yang)裝稱(cheng)譽太子(zi)(zi),暗(an)地里卻讓(rang)人誹謗太子(zi)(zi)申生,想立(li)自(zi)己的兒子(zi)(zi)為太子(zi)(zi)。
晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)二十一年(nian)(前(qian)656年(nian)),驪(li)姬(ji)對(dui)太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)說,晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)曾(ceng)夢見他的(de)(de)母親齊(qi)姜,讓他速去曲沃祭(ji)祀一番,回來(lai)后把(ba)祭(ji)祀用的(de)(de)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)獻(xian)(xian)給(gei)(gei)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)。太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)于(yu)是到曲沃祭(ji)祀母親齊(qi)姜后,將(jiang)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)獻(xian)(xian)給(gei)(gei)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)。當時晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)剛好出外打(da)獵,驪(li)姬(ji)把(ba)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)放在(zai)宮中。六天(一作兩天)后,晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)打(da)獵回來(lai),驪(li)姬(ji)暗中派人在(zai)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)中下毒(du),然后讓廚師(shi)將(jiang)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)奉(feng)給(gei)(gei)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)要(yao)吃(chi)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou),驪(li)姬(ji)從旁邊阻止晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)說:“胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)來(lai)自(zi)遠方,應試試它。”便把(ba)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)給(gei)(gei)狗(gou)吃(chi),狗(gou)死(si)了;給(gei)(gei)宮中廝(si)(si)役嘗,廝(si)(si)役也死(si)了。驪(li)姬(ji)哭(ku)著說:“太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)為何這(zhe)般(ban)殘忍呀!連自(zi)己父(fu)親都(dou)想(xiang)殺害去接替他,更何況其他人呢(ni)?再說父(fu)君年(nian)老,早(zao)晚(wan)都(dou)是要(yao)死(si)的(de)(de)人,竟迫不及(ji)待而想(xiang)謀害他!”驪(li)姬(ji)又對(dui)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)說:“太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)這(zhe)樣做,不過是因(yin)為我(wo)(wo)和奚齊(qi)的(de)(de)緣(yuan)故。我(wo)(wo)希(xi)望讓我(wo)(wo)母子(zi)(zi)倆(lia)躲到別的(de)(de)國家去,或者早(zao)點(dian)自(zi)殺,不要(yao)白(bai)白(bai)讓母子(zi)(zi)倆(lia)被(bei)太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)糟踏。早(zao)先您(nin)想(xiang)廢他,我(wo)(wo)還反對(dui)您(nin);到如今,我(wo)(wo)才知道在(zai)這(zhe)件事上是大錯特錯。”太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)聽說這(zhe)消息后,逃(tao)奔到新城。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)大怒(nu),就(jiu)殺死(si)太(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)的(de)(de)老師(shi)杜原(yuan)款。
有(you)人對太(tai)子(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)說(shuo)(shuo),放毒(du)藥的(de)是驪姬,讓(rang)太(tai)子(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)在晉獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)面前聲辯(bian),晉獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)必會(hui)(hui)相信。太(tai)子(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)說(shuo)(shuo),晉獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)如果沒有(you)驪姬,就(jiu)會(hui)(hui)睡(shui)眠不(bu)安,飲食不(bu)甘。他(ta)如果聲辯(bian),驪姬必定有(you)罪。現在晉獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)年老,驪姬有(you)罪會(hui)(hui)使晉獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)不(bu)高興,這(zhe)樣他(ta)也會(hui)(hui)憂郁不(bu)樂(le)。有(you)人勸太(tai)子(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)逃到(dao)其他(ta)國家去。太(tai)子(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)說(shuo)(shuo),背負殺父(fu)的(de)惡(e)名逃奔,誰會(hui)(hui)接(jie)納他(ta),不(bu)如選擇自(zi)殺。同(tong)年十二月(yue)二十七日,太(tai)子(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)在新城(cheng)自(zi)殺而死。太(tai)子(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)死后,驪姬誣陷公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)重耳(er)和公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)夷吾,說(shuo)(shuo)他(ta)們都參預(yu)太(tai)子(zi)申(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)的(de)陰(yin)謀(mou)。于是公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)重耳(er)逃亡到(dao)蒲城(cheng),公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)夷吾逃亡到(dao)屈(qu)城(cheng)。
晉(jin)獻公(gong)二(er)十(shi)六年(nian)(前651年(nian))夏天,晉(jin)獻公(gong)參(can)加由齊(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)桓(huan)公(gong)在葵丘舉行的(de)與各國諸(zhu)侯的(de)盟(meng)會。晉(jin)獻公(gong)因病(bing)去(qu)遲,又被周朝宰(zai)孔勸阻(zu),于是在途中(zhong)返回晉(jin)國。晉(jin)獻公(gong)病(bing)情加重(zhong),對(dui)荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)說:“我(wo)把奚(xi)齊(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)作(zuo)為(wei)繼(ji)承人,他年(nian)齡小(xiao),大臣們不服(fu),恐怕(pa)會有(you)禍亂,您能(neng)擁(yong)立他嗎?”荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)說能(neng)。晉(jin)獻公(gong)說用什(shen)么做(zuo)憑(ping)證?荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)回答說:“即使您死(si)而復生(sheng),我(wo)也不感到(dao)有(you)愧,這就是憑(ping)證。”于是晉(jin)獻公(gong)將奚(xi)齊(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)托(tuo)付給(gei)荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)。荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)擔任國相,主(zhu)持(chi)國政。同(tong)年(nian)九(jiu)月(yue),晉(jin)獻公(gong)去(qu)世,奚(xi)齊(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)繼(ji)位。同(tong)年(nian)十(shi)月(yue),里克(ke)(ke)殺(sha)死(si)奚(xi)齊(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi),荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)改立卓子為(wei)國君。十(shi)一月(yue),里克(ke)(ke)再度(du)殺(sha)死(si)卓子,并對(dui)驪(li)姬進行羞辱(ru)、鞭(bian)打一番(fan)后,將其殺(sha)死(si)。