During the Spring and Autumn period, a civil war erupted in the state of Qi. Duke Xiang was killed, leaving Qi momentarily without a ruler.
During the chaos of Qi's civil war, Duke Xiang of Qi's two younger brothers, Prince Xiaobai and Prince Jiu, fled to the states of Ju and Lu for refuge. After Duke Xiang was assassinated, Qi nobles decided to install Prince Xiaobai as ruler and sent envoys to Ju to escort him back. Meanwhile, Lu, hoping to profit from Prince Jiu's rule, prepared to escort him to Qi as well.
Who should be the ruler? Naturally, "the early bird catches the worm."
Guan Zhong, the brilliant strategist serving Prince Jiu, knew his master could never claim the throne of Qi if Prince Xiaobai returned first. So when he learned Xiaobai had already departed, Guan Zhong personally led troops to ambush the road from Ju to Qi.
Prince Xiaobai and his advisor Bao Shuya were hurrying along. Bao Shuya looked up and saw a figure in the distance who looked very much like his good friend Guan Zhong. It had been a long time since they last met. Bao Shuya drove his chariot forward and, sure enough, it was Guan Zhong. Delighted, Bao Shuya waved and called out, "Hey! Brother Guan Zhong!"
Unexpectedly, Guan Zhong ignored him, drew his bow, and shot an arrow straight at Prince Xiaobai. With a twang, the arrow struck the hook on Xiaobai's belt, missing his body. Prince Xiaobai, never expecting an ambush here, pretended to be hit, cried out loudly, and collapsed onto his chariot.
Bao Shuya cracked his whip, and the horse galloped at full speed. As the carriage passed by Guan Zhong, he saw clearly: Prince Xiaobai's eyes were tightly shut, motionless.
Guan Zhong, believing Prince Xiaobai was dead, returned to report to Prince Jiu. Prince Jiu was relieved: his rival was eliminated. The Lu delegation escorting Prince Jiu thus proceeded slowly, in no hurry to travel.
But Prince Xiaobai and his party raced day and night, covering a thousand li in a single day to reach Qi first. With the support of the nobles, Prince Xiaobai ascended the throne, becoming Duke Huan of Qi.
After Duke Huan of Qi ascended the throne, he wanted to appoint Bao Shuya as prime minister
Duke Huan of Qi still remembered the near-fatal arrow wound from Guan Zhong, and the memory still burned with resentment.
Bao Shuya advised him, "He was merely serving his master. If you pardon him and entrust him with an important post, he will be equally loyal to you."
Duke Huan of Qi heeded Bao Shuya's advice but feared the state of Lu would never release Guan Zhong back to Qi. Bao Shuya devised a plan, sending an envoy to Lu demanding the return of the disobedient minister Guan Zhong, warning, "Guan Zhong is our ruler's sworn enemy, and the Duke insists on executing him personally to vent his wrath. If you refuse, the Qi army will besiege Lu."
The state of Lu knew perfectly well that Duke Huan of Qi did not intend to kill Guan Zhong but rather to employ him, yet bowing to pressure, they could only place Guan Zhong in a prison cart and escort him to Qi.
As soon as the prisoner cart entered the state of Qi, Bao Shuya came out to greet it.
Duke Huan of Qi prepared a grand welcome ceremony, ordering Guan Zhong to bathe multiple times and anoint himself with fragrant oils—a rare honor in those days.
Duke Huan of Qi personally rode out to the outskirts of the capital Linzi to welcome Guan Zhong. Deeply moved by the duke's magnanimity, Guan Zhong devoted himself wholeheartedly to assisting Duke Huan, implementing sweeping reforms in the economy, domestic governance, and military affairs that steadily strengthened the state of Qi until it finally rose to dominate all the feudal lords.
The idiom "Three Perfumings and Three Bathings" means: "xun" refers to anointing the body with fragrant spices, while "mu" means bathing. Repeatedly bathing and applying perfumed oils was an ancient ritual of respect, signifying honor toward a person.
Source: *Guoyu*, Chapter "Discourses of Qi"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "三衅三沐" came to describe how repeatedly bathing and applying perfumed oils was an ancient ritual of respect, signifying honor toward a person.