晉獻(xian)公(gong)五年(前(qian)672年),晉獻(xian)公(gong)攻(gong)打驪(li)戎(古代少(shao)數民族名,西(xi)(xi)戎的一(yi)支(zhi),姬姓(xing),在今陜西(xi)(xi)省(sheng)臨潼(tong)縣的驪(li)山),結果(guo)晉軍一(yi)戰而勝,驪(li)戎求和(he)將驪(li)姬與(yu)其(qi)妹(mei)少(shao)姬獻(xian)給晉獻(xian)公(gong)。晉獻(xian)公(gong)得到(dao)驪(li)姬姐妹(mei)二(er)人(ren)后(hou),對她(ta)們十分寵愛。后(hou)來,晉獻(xian)公(gong)將驪(li)姬立(li)為夫(fu)人(ren)。
晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)十二年(nian)(前(qian)665年(nian)),驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)為晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)下兒(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)奚(xi)齊(qi)。驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)想立奚(xi)齊(qi)為太(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi),于是(shi)賄賂(lu)晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)的(de)(de)(de)男寵梁五(wu)和東關嬖五(wu),讓他們對晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)說:“曲沃(今山(shan)(shan)西聞喜東北(bei))是(shi)晉(jin)國(guo)先祖宗廟所在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)的(de)(de)(de)地方,最好(hao)(hao)派(pai)(pai)太(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)去鎮守,而(er)蒲城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(今山(shan)(shan)西鄉(xiang)寧縣及周(zhou)邊一(yi)帶(dai)(dai)) 靠近秦(qin)國(guo),屈城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(一(yi)作南北(bei)屈,在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)今山(shan)(shan)西吉縣及鄉(xiang)寧一(yi)帶(dai)(dai))靠近翟國(guo)(今山(shan)(shan)西鄉(xiang)寧及周(zhou)邊一(yi)帶(dai)(dai)),是(shi)邊防(fang)要塞,最好(hao)(hao)派(pai)(pai)公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳和公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾(wu)分別防(fang)守。”晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)中計,于是(shi)派(pai)(pai)太(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)住在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)曲沃,公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳住在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)蒲城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾(wu)住在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)屈城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。只留下奚(xi)齊(qi)與少姬(ji)(ji)的(de)(de)(de)兒(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)卓子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)身(shen)邊,居住在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)都(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)絳城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),以伺機廢掉太(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)。晉(jin)國(guo)人據(ju)此推知太(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)將不會繼位(wei)。太(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的(de)(de)(de)母(mu)(mu)親(qin)是(shi)齊(qi)桓公(gong)(gong)之(zhi)女,名叫齊(qi)姜,很早去世。太(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)的(de)(de)(de)同母(mu)(mu)妹妹穆(mu)姬(ji)(ji)是(shi)秦(qin)穆(mu)公(gong)(gong)的(de)(de)(de)夫人。公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳的(de)(de)(de)母(mu)(mu)親(qin),是(shi)翟國(guo)(今山(shan)(shan)西鄉(xiang)寧及周(zhou)邊一(yi)帶(dai)(dai))狐氏的(de)(de)(de)女兒(er)。公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾(wu)的(de)(de)(de)母(mu)(mu)親(qin),是(shi)重(zhong)耳母(mu)(mu)親(qin)的(de)(de)(de)妹妹。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)有八個(ge)兒(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi),其(qi)中太(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申(shen)(shen)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)、公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)重(zhong)耳、公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)夷(yi)吾(wu)都(dou)很賢德。當晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)得到驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)之(zhi)后,就開始疏遠這(zhe)三個(ge)兒(er)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)。
晉獻公私下對(dui)驪(li)姬說:“我(wo)想(xiang)廢黜太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申生,讓奚齊做太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)。”驪(li)姬哭著(zhu)說:“太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)被立,諸侯都已知道(dao),而且他數次領兵,百姓(xing)都擁護他,怎么能(neng)因我(wo)的(de)原因而廢掉嫡(di)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)改立庶子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)?您(nin)一定要(yao)那樣做,我(wo)就去自(zi)殺。”驪(li)姬表面佯(yang)裝稱譽太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi),暗(an)地里卻(que)讓人誹謗太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)申生,想(xiang)立自(zi)己的(de)兒子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)為(wei)太(tai)(tai)(tai)(tai)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)。
晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)二(er)十一年(nian)(前656年(nian)),驪姬對太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生說(shuo),晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)曾夢見他的(de)(de)(de)母親齊姜,讓他速去曲沃祭祀(si)一番,回來(lai)后把(ba)祭祀(si)用的(de)(de)(de)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)獻(xian)(xian)給晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)。太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生于是到(dao)曲沃祭祀(si)母親齊姜后,將胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)獻(xian)(xian)給晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)。當時晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)剛好出外打獵,驪姬把(ba)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)放在(zai)宮中(zhong)。六天(tian)(一作兩天(tian))后,晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)打獵回來(lai),驪姬暗中(zhong)派人(ren)在(zai)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)中(zhong)下毒,然后讓廚師將胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)奉給晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)要(yao)吃(chi)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou),驪姬從(cong)旁邊阻(zu)止晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)說(shuo):“胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)來(lai)自遠方,應試試它(ta)。”便把(ba)胙(zuo)(zuo)肉(rou)給狗(gou)吃(chi),狗(gou)死了;給宮中(zhong)廝役嘗,廝役也死了。驪姬哭著(zhu)說(shuo):“太(tai)(tai)子(zi)為(wei)何(he)這(zhe)般殘忍呀!連自己(ji)父親都想(xiang)殺害去接替他,更何(he)況其他人(ren)呢?再(zai)說(shuo)父君(jun)年(nian)老,早(zao)晚都是要(yao)死的(de)(de)(de)人(ren),竟迫不及待(dai)而想(xiang)謀害他!”驪姬又對晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)說(shuo):“太(tai)(tai)子(zi)這(zhe)樣做,不過(guo)是因(yin)為(wei)我(wo)(wo)和奚齊的(de)(de)(de)緣(yuan)故(gu)。我(wo)(wo)希望(wang)讓我(wo)(wo)母子(zi)倆躲到(dao)別(bie)的(de)(de)(de)國家(jia)去,或者早(zao)點自殺,不要(yao)白(bai)白(bai)讓母子(zi)倆被太(tai)(tai)子(zi)糟踏。早(zao)先您(nin)想(xiang)廢他,我(wo)(wo)還反對您(nin);到(dao)如(ru)今,我(wo)(wo)才知道(dao)在(zai)這(zhe)件事(shi)上是大錯(cuo)特錯(cuo)。”太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生聽說(shuo)這(zhe)消息(xi)后,逃奔到(dao)新城。晉(jin)獻(xian)(xian)公(gong)(gong)大怒,就殺死太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)生的(de)(de)(de)老師杜原款。
有(you)(you)人對(dui)太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生說,放毒藥的是驪(li)姬(ji)(ji),讓太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生在(zai)晉(jin)獻公(gong)面前聲(sheng)辯,晉(jin)獻公(gong)必會(hui)(hui)相信。太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生說,晉(jin)獻公(gong)如(ru)(ru)果(guo)沒有(you)(you)驪(li)姬(ji)(ji),就會(hui)(hui)睡眠不安,飲食不甘。他如(ru)(ru)果(guo)聲(sheng)辯,驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)必定有(you)(you)罪。現在(zai)晉(jin)獻公(gong)年老,驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)有(you)(you)罪會(hui)(hui)使晉(jin)獻公(gong)不高興,這樣他也會(hui)(hui)憂郁不樂。有(you)(you)人勸太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生逃(tao)到(dao)(dao)其(qi)他國家去(qu)。太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生說,背負殺父的惡名逃(tao)奔(ben),誰會(hui)(hui)接(jie)納(na)他,不如(ru)(ru)選(xuan)擇(ze)自殺。同年十二月二十七日,太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生在(zai)新城自殺而(er)死。太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生死后,驪(li)姬(ji)(ji)誣(wu)陷(xian)公(gong)子(zi)重(zhong)(zhong)耳(er)和公(gong)子(zi)夷吾,說他們都參(can)預(yu)太(tai)(tai)子(zi)申(shen)(shen)(shen)生的陰謀。于是公(gong)子(zi)重(zhong)(zhong)耳(er)逃(tao)亡到(dao)(dao)蒲城,公(gong)子(zi)夷吾逃(tao)亡到(dao)(dao)屈城。
晉(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)二十六年(nian)(前651年(nian))夏天,晉(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)參加由齊桓公(gong)(gong)在葵(kui)丘舉行的與各(ge)國(guo)諸侯的盟會。晉(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)因病去遲,又被(bei)周朝宰孔(kong)勸(quan)阻,于(yu)是在途中(zhong)返回晉(jin)國(guo)。晉(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)病情加重,對荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)說(shuo):“我把(ba)奚齊作(zuo)為繼(ji)承(cheng)人,他(ta)年(nian)齡小,大臣們(men)不服,恐(kong)怕會有禍亂,您能擁立他(ta)嗎(ma)?”荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)說(shuo)能。晉(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)說(shuo)用什么做憑證?荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)回答說(shuo):“即使您死(si)而復生,我也不感到有愧,這就是憑證。”于(yu)是晉(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)將奚齊托付給荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)。荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)擔任國(guo)相,主持國(guo)政(zheng)。同年(nian)九月,晉(jin)獻(xian)公(gong)(gong)去世,奚齊繼(ji)位。同年(nian)十月,里克殺(sha)死(si)奚齊,荀(xun)(xun)息(xi)改立卓(zhuo)子(zi)(zi)為國(guo)君。十一月,里克再(zai)度殺(sha)死(si)卓(zhuo)子(zi)(zi),并對驪姬(ji)進行羞辱、鞭打一番后,將其(qi)殺(sha)死(si)。