[1] In 672 BC, King Cheng's older brother, Du'ao, attempted to have him killed.

The Shiji gives a detailed account of the events surrounding King Cheng's succession and untimely end.

In the forty-sixth year of his reign (626 BC), Cheng wanted to make Shangchen (商臣), the future King Mu, his crown prince.

Lingyin (title for prime minister of Chu) Zishang (子上) advised against this, fearing that there were many contenders for the position and that, if the king were to change his mind and act to replace the crown prince, a disturbance would ensue.

During the tenth month, Shangchen led palace troops to surround King Cheng and force him to commit suicide.