During the early Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu (Liu Xiu) appointed Song Hong, who had served as a Chamberlain during the Western Han Dynasty, promoting him to Grand Master.

The emperor's sister, who was widowed, admired Song Hong. Emperor Guangwu wanted to marry his sister to Song Hong, so he asked Song Hong for his views on the saying, 'One changes friends when becoming noble, and changes wives when becoming rich'.

Song Hong replied, 'Friends made in humble times should not be forgotten, and a wife who shared your hardships should not be abandoned'. Hearing this, Emperor Guangwu had no choice but to drop the idea.