During the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Xian of Jin, swayed by the slander of his favored concubine Li Ji, forced Crown Prince Shensheng to his death. Shensheng's two half-brothers, Yiwu and Chong'er, were left with no choice but to flee into exile.
Chong'er, already known for his wisdom, fled his home state with talented advisors like Hu Mao, Hu Yan, Zhao Cui, and Xu Chen by his side.
During his exile in the Di state, Chong'er was gifted two beautiful sisters captured in war, Ji Wei and Shu Wei. Chong'er married Ji Wei, who bore him a son named Botiao, while Shu Wei was given to his loyal follower Zhao Cui, who fathered Zhao Dun with her.
One day, bad news arrived from Jin: Prince Yiwu, who had fled to Liang, returned with Qin's help to take the throne after Duke Xian's death. Fearing his brother Chong'er would return to claim the throne, he sent assassins to kill him.
After learning of this news, Chong'er discussed it with his companions and decided to flee to Qi. On the night before his departure, he said to his wife Ji Wei, "Yiwu has sent assassins to kill me, so I plan to escape to Qi. You must raise our two children with all your heart. If I do not return in twenty-five years, you may remarry."
Ji Wei said sorrowfully, "I am already twenty-five years old. In another twenty-five years, I will be one foot in the grave. Who would I marry? Don't worry, I will wait for you here."
The next day, Chong'er fled to the State of Qi, where Duke Huan of Qi treated him like an honored guest and even married him to a beautiful woman from his own clan. However, a few years later, Duke Huan fell ill and died, and five of his sons fought for the throne, plunging the state into chaos. Left with no choice, Chong'er had to seek refuge elsewhere.
After wandering through the states of Jin, Song, Zheng, and Chu without finding refuge, Chong'er was finally taken in by Duke Mu of Qin, who even married his daughter to him. That same year, Yiwu died of illness, so Duke Mu of Qin sent troops to escort Chong'er back to Jin, where he ascended the throne and became known historically as Duke Wen of Jin.
Later, people used the idiom "at death's door" to describe someone nearing death.
Source: *Zuo Zhuan*, "Duke Xi's Twenty-Third Year"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "行将就木" came to describe how someone is nearing death.