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During the Spring and Autumn period, Chong'er, a prince of the Jin state, fled to the Qi state. Duke Huan of Qi married his daughter, Qi Jiang, to Chong'er. Chong'er lived a comfortable and leisurely life in Qi for seven years.
His retainers grew anxious, discussing how he should return to Jin to vie for the throne. Qi Jiang also believed that a man of ambition should have grand aspirations (志在四方) and achieve great things. Therefore, she conspired with Chong'er's subordinates to devise a plan to send him away from Qi.