During the early Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Liu Xuan (Guangwu Emperor) appointed Song Hong, who had served as a court attendant in the Western Han Dynasty, to the position of 'Grand Master of Remonstrance'.

Emperor Liu Xuan's older sister was a widow and developed feelings for Song Hong. The Emperor intended to marry his sister to Song Hong and asked him for his views on the saying '贵易交，富易妻' (one changes friends when becoming noble, and changes wives when becoming rich).

Song Hong replied, 'Friends made in poverty should not be forgotten, and a wife who shared coarse food during humble days should not be abandoned from the hall.' Hearing this, Emperor Liu Xuan had no choice but to drop the idea.