Lin-gong Yi

Ling-gun, the former son of the Zheng ruler Mu-gun, remained in power for a very short time. If you believe Sima Qian, then the cause of his death was a rather strange incident. Ling-gong, who had just ascended to the throne, received a gift from Chu - a large turtle and invited his two dignitaries Zi Jia and Zi Gong to a reception. One of the invited Zi Gong sniffed the delicious smell of tortoise soup and began to move his index finger, saying to Zi Jia: “At other times, when my index finger moved, I always had to eat unusual dishes.” Entering the palace, he saw that Ling-gun was bringing soup from the turtle and laughed, rejoicing at his innocence. The ruler who came in asked about the reason for the laughter, and when he found out, for some reason he was offended and found it appropriate to enclose the soup of the one who moved his finger. The offended dignitary left, after which Ling-gun was offended and decided to kill the departed. But Zi Gong was ahead of the ruler and, conspiring with Zi Jia, he killed him. The situation does not look very reliable, because the reason for insulting and even more so killing the ruler seems too trifling - in any case, in the version recorded by the sources. But the honor of the aristocrat was hurt.

Ling-gong's younger brother, Jian, known as Xiang-gong, was seated on the throne.

• Sima Qian . Historical notes. M .: Oriental literature, 1972.
• Vasiliev L.S. Ancient China. t.2 M.2000.