During his father's reign, angry that he was not created crown prince, he tried to seize that position by force, but after his failure was killed.
After a series of coups in 386, Murong Yong became emperor, and under his leadership Western Yan settled in at Zhangzi (長子, in modern Changzhi, Shanxi).
He grew extremely ill in early 396, however, and died during the campaign and was succeeded by Murong Bao.
Later in 396, Northern Wei launched a major attack on Later Yan, immediately seizing most of the central and western provinces of the empire, and putting Zhongshan under siege.
Murong Hui mobilized his troops under guise of heading for his father's aid, but did not actually have the desire to do so, and so advanced slowly only after the urging of the general Yu Chong (餘崇).