by Tang Xianzu
LI YI:
Please tell us your name. I’ll write down your name to remember you.
GALLANT KNIGHT (Laughs):
It’s not necessary!
I chanced
To hear about your trouble in marriage.
Who’s got entangled?
Who’s got entangled?
(Raises his hand)
Bye-bye!
GALLANT KNIGHT, SERVANTS:
“We’ll ride back amidst flowers,
Leaving the couple to themselves in tears.”
(Exeunt)
LI YI:
What the Gallant Knight said is reasonable. Now let me propose a toast to my wife.
(Hands the wine cup to Huo Xiaoyu)
HUO XIAOYU (Sighs):
“I’m a woman
Suffering an unfortunate fate.
You are my man
With a cruel heart.
I’ll die in bitterness
With my youth and beauty wasted.
I’ll leave my loving mother
Without my filial piety.
I’ll leave behind the enjoyment
Of beautiful clothes and music.
I’ll die in great grievance,
All caused by your heartlessness.”
Mr. Li, we’ll part forever today!
(Holds Li Yi’s arm with her left hand, drops the wine cup onto the ground, utters several sighs
and faints out)
LADY ZHENG (Tries to help up Huo Xiaoyu, who falls into Li Yi’s arms):
(Weeps)
Wake her up, Li Yi!
LI YI (To the tune of Erlangshen):
In all these years,
I’ve disappointed my wife.
What have I got from my official career?
My lack of concerns for you is like shears
That cut short your tender life.
My wife,
No one in the world is your peer.
(Tries to help Huo Xiaoyu up but fails)
How can I lift a rock of deep lovesickness!
LI YI, LADY ZHENG, BAO SINIANG, HUANSHA:
We wonder
How you can be willing to leave us like this?
HUO XIAOYU (Awakes):
(To the previous tune)
I’ve lost consciousness;
Where am I now?
Am I drunk or dreaming,
To have my man by my side?
Mom,
I feel like the flying willow catkins in wind.
Who has lifted me up into the air?
LI YI:
I am supporting you.
HUO XIAOYU:
Why are you supporting me?
Let’s be separated till my death,
And I’ll complain about you in the netherworld.
LI YI, LADY ZHENG, BAO SINIANG, HUANSHA:
We wonder
How you can be willing to leave us like this?
HUO XIAOYU:
I don’t want to recall your words when you left for the frontier!
LI YI (To the tune of Zhuanlinying):
It’s hard to explain my experience in a few words,
But the paper screen well represents my lovesickness.
And I’m grateful for your poem written by candlelight
When I was transferred to the Mengmen Garrison.
HUO XIAOYU:
So you received the poem?
LI YI:
Yes.
You hinted at my remarriage with Lu’s daughter,
But it is mere rumour.
HUO XIAOYU:
Didn’t Wei Xiaqing act as the matchmaker and then Cui Yunming tell me the truth? Is this the case, or is it mere rumour?
HUO XIAOYU, LI YI:
For a false and pretended love,
Tears have been soaking the dress.
HUO XIAOYU (To the previous tune):
Miss Lu is pretty;
How long will you keep her waiting?
She can still enjoy happiness,
But I have few days left.
I would rather die
Than put you in a plight.
LI YI:
We’ll share the same grave when we die.
HUO XIAOYU:
Who’ll believe you?
HUO XIAOYU, LI YI:
For a false and pretended love,
Tears have been soaking the dress.
HUO XIAOYU:
Now you know I sold the hairpins out of poverty. Aren’t the hairpins worthy of her attention?
LI YI:
Nonsense!
(To the tune of Zhuomuli)
The sight of the hairpins off your hair
Shoots daggers to my heart.
HUO XIAOYU:
How do they look on the new wife’s hair?
LI YI:
How can I give her your hairpins
To enhance her prettiness?
HUO XIAOYU:
She must have been annoyed and so given the hairpins to her maidservant.
LI YI:
Nonsense! The person who sold your hairpins spoke “good” about you.
She said you deserted our love and sold the hairpins,
But I didn’t believe it and hid the hairpins in my sleeves.
HUO XIAOYU:
Why did you put them in your sleeves?
HUO XIAOYU, LI YI:
I will cherish
The sight of your beautiful hair
Adorned by the hairpins.
LI YI:
When you get better, I want to see a person.
(Looks around)
HUO XIAOYU:
Who are you looking for?
LI YI:
When Bao Sanniang came to sell your hairpins, she said you had a new lover.
HUO XIAOYU (Annoyed):
How shameful it is to say so! Where is the so-called Bao Sanniang? It is Hou Jingxian who sold the hairpins for me. What nonsense it is to speak of a new lover! It’s you who want to shift the blame on me!
(To the previous tune)
You don’t have respect for your wife
And try to play dirty tricks on her.
Now what outcome have you seen?
LI YI:
You’re annoyed again!
HUO XIAOYU:
I’d rather die now than be wronged.
You said I deserted our love. Now give me back the hairpins.
LI YI:
That’s easy.
HUO XIAOYU:
Give me back the hairpins and let’s clear up the matter.
She must have grown bored of the hairpins,
So she throws them away for a new hairstyle.
Now give me back the hairpins!
HUO XIAOYU, LI YI:
I will cherish
The sight of your beautiful hair
Adorned by the hairpins.
LADY ZHENG:
Let’s ask Qiuhong what on earth had happened.
(Enter Qiuhong)
QIUHONG:
It’s true that he did not agree to marry Miss Lu.
(To the tune of Tiying’er)
For that General Lu,
It’s funny of him to put my master in house detainment,
But my master,
My master would not agree to his marriage arrangement.
HUANSHA:
Then why didn’t he come back?
QIUHONG:
My master,
He resents the forced marriage arrangement,
But has to fear General Lu’s threat.
He is afraid that Lu will find faults with you.
For the final reunion with you,
He had to live under house arrest.
QIUHONG, HUANSHA:
Hearing why you sold the hairpins,
He put them away
In his sleeves.
BAO SINIANG:
Military Consultant Li, you’ve forgotten all about how I made the match for you.
QIUHONG:
Your family members do matchmaking as well as busine
ss. The person who sold the hairpins is your elder sister.
BAO SINIANG:
I have many sisters.
QIUHONG:
So it was General Lu’s trick!
LADY ZHENG (To the previous tune):
He tried to break your love tree with strong wind;
Fortunately you are reunited as man and wife.
BAO SINIANG:
The Gallant Knight in the yellow robe comes to my mind.
We womenfolk could do nothing but look on,
While the Gallant Knight offered immediate help.
Miss Huo,
How accurate your dream was about the man in yellow,
Who indicated that the matter would be well solved.
QIUHONG, HUANSHA:
Hearing why you sold the hairpins,
He put them away
In his sleeves.
HUO XIAOYU:
All right then, but have you brought the hairpins with you?
(Li Yi takes out the hairpins from his sleeves)
HUO XIAOYU:
So they are really in your sleeves.
(Holds the hairpins in joy)
(To the tune of Yuying’er)
The smooth jade hairpins
Are still tied with silk threads.
Inlaid in them are several pearls,
Shining with vernal green.
They are about to take flight from the hair,
Or to sleep on the dressing table.
But how can I put them on in my sickness?
HUO XIAOYU, LI YI:
How strange it is
That the hairpins we see
Look the same as we did at the Lantern Festival!
LADY ZHENG:
Huansha, bring the jewelry box, mirror and rouge, and put the hairpins on Xiaoyu’s hair.
LI YI (Supports Huo Xiaoyu and laughs):
You look more beautiful and delicate in frailty.
(Huo Xiaoyu puts on the hairpins with trembling hands)
LI YI:
It’s indeed,
(In the pattern of Huanxisha)
“She makes up and dresses up;
LADY ZHENG:
She combs her beautiful hair;
BAO SINIANG:
She holds the hairpins beside her man.
HUO XIAOYU:
Mr. Li,
Although I’ve recovered from illness,
I’m still too weak in health.
HUO XIAOYU, LI YI:
Our reunion gives us a second life.”
LI YI (To the previous tune):
We are blessed with happiness
From the reunion through the hairpins.
The pair of swallows on them seem to fly
Yet reluctant to leave the flowers.
With the hairpins stuck in your hair
That sways slightly in breeze,
The chirping swallows can’t tell our whole story.
LI YI, HUO XIAOYU:
How strange it is
That the hairpins we see
Look the same as we did at the Lantern Festival!
LADY ZHENG:
All of us should be grateful to the Gallant Knight.
HUO XIAOYU:
I seem to have seen him on the Lantern Festival.
(To the tune of Coda)
My man,
The same Gallant Knight appeared in my dream,
But it’s your turn to take care of your sick wife.
My man, don’t leave again!
Burn another joss stick to make a vow of love.
I’ve gained a second life and met my man,
With a mixed feeling of gratitude and resentment.
Let’s light the candle all through the night,
As I’m still afraid that we’re meeting in a dream.
Scene Fifty-Three
His Majesty’s Decree Is Declared
(Enter Cui Yunming and Wei Xiaqing)
CUI YUNMING, WEI XIAQING (To the tune of Yiduojiao):
After a few toasts,
We rush to admire flowers,
Indulged in beautiful music and sights.
For propitious signs from candlewicks last night,
We come to congratulate,
We come to congratulate,
On the conferment of honorable titles by His Majesty.
“There is too much injustice in this world,
But too few people who stand out to offer help.”
We’ve received a lot of money from Huo Xiaoyu for helping to find her man. Not until the Gallant Knight in the yellow robe comes to redeem their broken marriage does their trouble come to an end. Now all the people celebrate the happy ending brought about by the Gallant Knight, which is not at all accidental.
WEI XIAQING:
But I’m afraid that General Lu won’t give up so easily. We’ll all come to trouble if he wishes. What can we do to deal with him?
CUI YUNMING:
The Gallant Knight has secret connections with the imperial family, although he conceals his name. Recently His Majesty is not satisfied with General Lu for his monopoly of power. And someone reported Lu’s evil deeds to His Majesty, which makes His Majesty angrier. Now General Lu has no mind to plan his daughter’s marriage. Besides, one of the Gallant Knight’s subordinates had the story of Xiaoyu’s virtue and the forced marriage arrangement by General Lu reported to His Majesty, who dispatched Governor Liu to confer Xiaoyu a title of honour. So you can just set your mind at ease.
WEI XIAQING:
I see. What a satisfactory result! Let’s go to report the news and offer our congratulations!
(Enter Li Yi, Huo Xiaoyu and Lady Zheng)
LI YI, HUO XIAOYU, LADY ZHENG (To the tune of Changmingnü):
In the spring breeze,
We have a reunion after a long separation.
(Greet Cui Yunming and Wei Xiaqing)
Here are Mr. Cui and Mr. Wei. Welcome to our house, old friends!
CUI YUNMING (Laughs):
Xiaoyu, your money is not all squandered. Now please get prepared to welcome Governor Liu, who will come with His Majesty’s decree.
(Enter Liu Gongji with His Majesty’s decree)
LIU GONGJI:
“His Majesty gives entitlement and promotion,
And blesses the reunion between man and wife.”
Now you kowtow and accept His Majesty’s decree. The affection between man and wife is not to be neglected; the sense of justice and chivalry are to be commended. This has always been emphasized throughout the history. With both military and literary talents, Military Consultant Li Yi does not yield to a forced remarriage arrangement in pursuit of power. He is a faithful husband. Now he is entitled Jixiandian Scholar and Luantai Assistant Minister of the Six Boards. With extraordinary wisdom, Huo Xiaoyu vows to be faithful to love until the dying day, and got destitute and ill for love. Now she is entitled Lady of Taiyuan Prefecture. Lady Zheng helped her husband to achieve meritorious deeds and brought up an excellent daughter. She is benevolent and good at disciplining child; she is old yet virtuous. Now she is entitled Lady of Xingyang Prefecture. General Lu takes advantage of his power to force Li to yield to his marriage arrangement. He almost caused people involved to die and broke a happy family. Now he is deprived of General’s post to make up for Huo Xiaoyu’s grievances. The Gallant Knight in yellow offers help to the young lady and upholds the moral standard and virtues. Now he is entitled The Nameless Prefect. Whoever supports the imperial creeds will be highly commended. That’s all for the decree. Now you kowtow and give thanks to His Majesty.
(Li Yi, Huo Xiaoyu and Lady Zheng kowtow and extend their thanks)
LIU GONGJI:
Junyu, we haven’t seen each other for a long time. Will you tell me in detail the story of the purple jade hairpins?
LI YI (To the tune of Cuipai):
In the street on the Lantern Festival night,
We met for the first time,
And immediately fell in love.
And immediatel
y fell in love.
Fortunately I picked up her lost hairpins
In the pale moonlight by the plum flowers,
And took it as a pledge
That contributed to our marriage.
LI YI, LIU GONGJI:
By His Majesty’s decree
Man and wife are happily reunited.
HUO XIAOYU (To the previous tune):
Well dressed on the sunny spring day,
I visited the imperial garden in splendour.
My man returned with honour and wealth,
My man returned with honour and wealth,
But he used to stay in another lady’s residence
And forget all about me.
He nearly married another woman,
But fortunately he has now returned.
LI YI, LIU GONGJI:
By His Majesty’s decree
Man and wife are happily reunited.
LADY ZHENG (To the previous tune):
We thought you had found new love,
As you did not return for several years.
See how declined we are,
See how declined we are.
And to know your whereabouts,
We used up all our resources.
Words failed our resentment and pains
When we had to sell the hairpins.
LI YI, LIU GONGJI:
By His Majesty’s decree
Man and wife are happily reunited.
BAO SINIANG (To the previous tune):
It’s your predestined fate
To get the hairpins back.
Now put them onto your hair,
Now put them onto your hair,
As if you were the new wife
And his new love.
I’ll burn the incense
To bless your new life.
LI YI, LIU GONGJI:
By His Majesty’s decree
Man and wife are happily reunited.
WEI XIAQING:
This should be attributed to the Gallant Knight.
CUI YUNMING (To the previous tune):
He offered help at once
When he heard of the injustice.
WEI XIAQING:
Now the couple stay together,
Now the couple stay together.
You renew your happy life
Under the candlelight
And stick to the love vow
Made before the flowers.
LI YI, LIU GONGJI:
By His Majesty’s decree
Man and wife are happily reunited.
ALL (To the tune of Yicuozhao):
Parting and reunion
Are predestined fate.
He has talent
But not a cruel heart.
We should always bear in mind
The scenes by the flowers and lanterns,
The pair of swallows on the hairpins,
The shoes in dream and the banquet.
A love-filled world and predestined marriages
Are to be yearned for.
All lovers in the world
Are to be happy couples.