」公曰：「何故也？
Lord Huan also had a son named Muyi, whom he was particularly fond of, by a later consort; Zi-fu too loved Muyi for his father’s sake and wished to set him up as heir to the throne, so he said to Lord Huan, “I beg you to establish Muyi—I will serve as his prime minister so as to provide him assistance.” “Why?” asked Lord Huan. “My maternal uncle is in Wei,” said Zi-fu.
」對曰：「臣之舅在衛，愛臣，若終立，則不可以往，絕跡於衛，是背母也。
“He is fond of me.
且臣自知不足以處目夷之上。
If I came to the throne, I would no longer be able to go there.
」公不許，彊以請公，公許之。
Cutting off my relations with Wei would be the same as forsaking my mother.
將立公子目夷，目夷辭曰：「兄立而弟在下，是其義也。
Moreover, I am well aware that I am not suited to occupy a position higher than that of Muyi.” Lord Huan did not consent, but, when Zi-fu pressed his entreaties, he at length agreed to the request.
今弟立而兄在下，不義也。
When Lord Huan was about to establish Muyi, however, Muyi declined, saying, “That the elder brother should assume the throne and the younger ones serve beneath him is the proper rule.
不義而使目夷為之，目夷將逃。
To have a younger brother assume the throne while the elder serves beneath him, as in this case, would not be fitting.
」乃逃之衛，茲父從之。
If I am to be compelled to do what is not fitting, I shall flee.” He thereupon fled to Wei, and Zi-fu followed him.
三年，桓公有疾，使人召茲父：47「若不來，是使我以憂死也。
Three years later Lord Huan fell ill and sent a man to summon Zi-fu back to court, saying, “If you do not come, you will cause me to suffer anxiety in my last moments.” Zi-fu accordingly returned, and Lord Huan confirmed his position as crown prince and heir to the throne.
」茲父乃返，公復立之，以為太子，然後目夷歸也。
Only then did Muyi return as well.