by Tang Xianzu
JIN GENERAL (Laughs and nods to Lady Yang for her to come nearer):
Hasa hasa ...
INTERPRETER:
He wants to ask you a question.
LADY YANG:
What did he want to ask?
JIN GENERAL (Pulls Lady Yang by the sleeve and whispers):
Hasa erge hairkela, hairkela ...
LADY YANG (To the interpreter with a smile):
What did he say?
INTERPRETER (Shakes his head):
He begged something from you.
LADY YANG (Smiles):
What is it?
INTERPRETER:
I dare not repeat his words.
JIN GENERAL (Collapses with laughter):
Gulu gulu ...
LI QUAN (Aside, to the interpreter):
What did he want from Lady Yang, by gulu-gulu all the time?
INTERPRETER:
As for this, he should not have wanted. Even if he wants it, Her Ladyship would not give him. Even if she will give him, Your Highness would not allow her. Even if you will allow her, I would not hand it over to him.
LI QUAN:
What is so precious?
INTERPRETER:
His words are clear enough: hasa erge hairkela ... He wants Her Ladyship’s hairy private parts.
LI QUAN (Annoyed):
What a shame! What a shame! That son of a barbarian bitch! Get me the spear!
(Dashes at the Jin General with a spear in his hand)
JIN GENERAL (Fends off the spear with his wine jar):
Gulu gulu ...
LI QUAN (To the tune of Northern Coda):
How can you fend off my spear with a jar?
You son of a barbarian bitch,
What do you aliens think we are!
(Pushes the Jin General to the ground)
I’ll pull your scarlet beard;
I’ll choke you and have you speared.
(Lady Yang grasps Li Quan and lets the Jin General go)
JIN GENERAL:
Yela yelaha ...
(Points at Li Quan)
Lilo chiding chiding mulash, lilo chiding mulash ...
(Exit with a flap of his sleeves)
LI QUAN:
What a shame! What did he mean by yelaha?
INTERPRETER:
He’s calling for the groom.
LI QUAN:
Why does he point at me, shouting lilo chiding mulash?
INTERPRETER:
He’s going to report this to his emperor and ask him to send troops to kill you,
(Li Quan is enraged)
LADY YANG:
My lord, it’s not the time for you to fly into a rage.
LI QUAN:
Oops, he wants your hairkela!
LADY YANG:
What if he gets it? You’re too jealous.
LI QUAN (After a pause):
I was being outrageous. When the Jin emperor learns about it, my position as Gilded Prince is shaky enough.
LADY YANG:
As this alien envoy has just returned from the south, there must be some bargain between the south and the north.
LI QUAN:
What’s your suggestion?
LADY YANG:
Let me think it over.
(Drums within)
(Enter the messenger)
MESSENGER:
Report, report, report! The scholar we released the other day has galloped back alone on horseback from Huai’an. He says that he’s got an urgent message for Your Highness.
LADY YANG:
He’s here at the right time. Show him in.
(Enter Chen Zuiliang)
CHEN ZUILIANG (To the tune of Lülüjin):
On an errand beyond my power,
I have to wait and see.
A military mission fits the soldier
Better than a scholar like me.
(Stumbles when he hears the yells within)
At the sound of cannon roar,
I stumble on the ground.
Dear me, dear me,
I try to find my way,
With swords and spears around.
MESSENGER (Announces):
Here comes the scholar.
CHEN ZUILIANG (Greets Li Quan and Lady Yang):
The scholar Chen Zuiliang, after a narrow escape, bows a hundred times to Your Highness and Your Ladyship.
LI QUAN:
Has Envoy Du surrendered his city?
CHEN ZUILIANG:
A city is nothing, compared with the kingship he has to offer you.
LI QUAN:
I have been a king since long ago.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
He’s offering you more titles and honours. Here’s his letter to you.
LI QUAN (Reads the letter):
“Family friend Du Bao shows his respect to His Highness, Prince Li.” Scholar, what family connections do I have with Envoy Du?
CHEN ZUILIANG:
In the Han Dynasty, there were two bosom friends named Li Gu and Du Qiao; in the Tang Dynasty, there were also two bosom friends named Li Bai and Du Fu. Therefore, Envoy Du ventures to say that you and he were family friends.
LI QUAN:
The old chap’s clever enough. Let me see what he’s got to say.
(Reads the letter)
(To the tune of Yifengshu)
“I hear that you serve the alien king,
Who is as fierce as wolf and tiger;
Such friendship can hardly last.
If you turn to serve the court of Song,
You’ll have abundant wealth
And be promoted fast.
Keep your crown
And turn over a new leaf.
As I try to persuade you
To stop the strife,
Please take my words in full belief.”
(Laughs)
This letter is trying to persuade me to turn to the court of Song, but I can hardly follow his advice. “Enclosed is a private letter to Her Ladyship.”
(Laughs)
Envoy Du has learned to show his respect to you, my lady.
LADY YANG:
Read it for me.
LI QUAN:
“Family friend Du Bao pays homage to Her Ladyship, Lady Yang.” Well, Envoy Du is building family connections with Lady Yang, too.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
As he’s a family friend of yours, so he’s a family friend of hers.
LI QUAN:
There’s some sense in it, but he should not say “pay homage” to a lady.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
If Her Ladyship is willing to pay homage to the court, why shouldn’t the envoy pay homage to her?
LADY YANG:
Well said. Now read on!
LI QUAN (Reads the letter):
“Family friend Du Bao pays homage to Her Ladyship, Lady Yang. It is said that your husband has been entitled Gilded Prince by the dynasty of Jin, but that you have not been entitled. I have reported to our emperor to entitle you as Anti-Jin Princess. I hope Your Ladyship will accept the offer with pleasure. With best regards.” He’s so considerate as to gain some imperial favour for you!
LADY YANG:
Mr Chen, does he want me to fight the Jins by conferring on me the title Anti-Jin Princess?
CHEN ZUILIANG:
When you accept the offer, you can get gold from the dynasty of Song whenever you need it. That’s why you’re entitled Anti-Jin Princess.
LADY YANG:
I must thank the kindness from your emperor.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
Everybody is singing praise of Song.
LADY YANG:
I take your words for granted. I need a helmet of purest gold. As I am a woman general, I only wear a helmet without jewellery. I’d like to have a helmet in the southern style.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
I’ll get it for you.
LI QUAN:
You only care about gold, gold. What about me, Gilded Prince?
LADY YANG:
/> Then, you’ll be Anti-Jin Prince.
LI QUAN:
I accept the title with pleasure.
CHEN ZUILIANG (Kowtows):
I’m afraid that Your Highness and Your Ladyship will change your minds.
LADY YANG:
I’ve fixed my mind. We’ll write a petition for surrender and ask you to bring it to the southern court.
LI QUAN (To the previous tune):
When we turn to the court of Song,
Our relations with Jin will go wrong.
LADY YANG:
Mr Chen,
It’s your task indeed
For me to get all the gold.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
Your Highness,
Conversion gives you peace of mind,
Your Ladyship,
And brings you bliss of every kind.
CHEN ZUILIANG, LI QUAN, LADY YANG:
Withdraw the troops
And obey the royal call
Lest our names be cursed by all.
LI QUAN:
Mr Chen, have dinner in the guesthouse. We’ll draft a petition of surrender by night and see you off tomorrow morning.
(Raises his right hand as a gesture of farewell. Chen Zuiliang also bows his farewell)
LI QUAN (To the tune of Coda):
While I am but a skeleton,
My wife carries the day.
CHEN ZUILIANG:
With your petition of surrender,
Our emperor will be happy and gay.
(Exit Chen Zuiliang, leaving Li Quan and Lady Yang on the stage)
LI QUAN:
My lady, by deserting Jin, we’ve got two princely titles. For most people, one princely title is unattainable, but we’ve got two. Aren’t we lucky!
LADY YANG:
Wait, we’ll have a third title.
LI QUAN:
What’s the third title?
LADY YANG:
Headless Prince.
LI QUAN:
What do you mean?
LADY YANG:
We’ll be beheaded.
LI QUAN:
Now that we’ve surrendered, why should they kill us?
LADY YANG:
We became chieftains because we had Jins at our back. Now that we have no one to turn to, the southern court can easily capture us.
LI QUAN (Annoyed):
Alas! I’m strong enough to fight ten thousand men; why should I be afraid of the southern court?
LADY YANG:
You are but another Xiang Yu, who would not admit defeat until he reached the Wujiang River.
LI QUAN:
Nonsense! Even if I were Xiang Yu and you were Beauty Yu, I would not submit you to the southern court.
LADY YANG:
Well, you are not Xiang Yu and I’m not Beauty Yu. Let’s find another way out.
LI QUAN:
What way out?
LADY YANG:
We’ll be like Fan Li sailing with Beauty Xishi.
LI QUAN:
Where are the Five Lakes for them to sail? — You mean we’ll go out to sea and be pirates?
LADY YANG (Gives commands):
Men in the camps, we’ve surrendered to the southern court. We’ll lift the siege on Huai’an and then go out to sea!
ATTENDANTS (In response):
The siege is lifted.
(Drums within)
The ships are ready. Your Highness, it’s time to set off.
(All embark the imaginary ships and walk around the stage)
LI QUAN (To the tune of Jiangtousongbie):
Beyond Huaiyang,
Beyond Huaiyang,
The sea surges wave on wave.
With the east wind,
With the east wind,
The sails go to the sea.
We’ll build our camps near the Penglai cave,
And raise our flags on ancient debris.
LADY YANG (To the previous tune):
Follow heavenly ways,
Follow heavenly ways,
And we’ll live an easy life.
When we submit,
When we submit,
We’ll do away with war.
We nearly hurt the Song court in the strife
But now we’ll brave the sea with awe.
ATTENDANTS:
Your Highness, Your Ladyship, we are out at sea.
LI QUAN:
Lay anchor for the night. We’ll set sail at dawn,
Each fights the war for his own lord
LADY YANG:
Until one side has gained the field.
LI QUAN:
I lead the troops to sea on board,
ALL:
No longer wielding sword or shield.
Scene Forty-Eight
Reunion with Her Mother
(Enter Du Liniang)
DU LINIANG (To the tune of Shi’ershi):
My unconquerable love
Restored me to life.
Freed from the smell of earth,
New flesh grows in the world above.
I stay at an inn as a lonely wife.
(Enter Sister Stone)
SISTER STONE:
You’ve pushed your man into the worldly strife.
DU LINIANG:
“When bamboo mattress is left in the cold
SISTER STONE:
And dust remains upon the pillowcase,
DU LINIANG:
My man comes in my dreamland as of old.
SISTER STONE:
Since the scholar met you in new bloom,
DU LINIANG:
The yearning maid has come to life again,
DU LINIANG, SISTER STONE:
But has to stay by herself in her room.”
DU LINIANG:
Sister Stone, I was lucky to regain my life and get married to Mr Liu. I hoped that he would pass the imperial examination and that we could visit my parents at home. It happened that the announcement of results was postponed because of the disturbances in Huainan. As my parents are in the besieged city, I’ve sent Mr Liu to find out what has happened to them and I’m thus left alone at an inn by the Qiantang River. How melancholy the moon looks and the river moans!
SISTER STONE:
This sight is much more lovely than what you saw in the netherworld.
DU LINIANG:
Of course it is.
(To the tune of Zhenxianxiang)
Although I dwell in a lonely village inn,
Compared with years of burial in the tomb,
The broken door and ragged blinds
Are heavens to me in my room.
Sister Stone,
How about life with my parents far away?
How about life with my man day by day?
In a trance, I seem
To live between life and death —
I have only one man in my dream.
SISTER STONE:
Few have had your experience.
(To the previous tune)
I kept your memorial tablet in the house
And waited for you to see your spouse.
DU LINIANG:
Sister Stone, do you know where I hid myself when you called on the scholar the other night?
SISTER STONE:
To hide behind the painting shade
Is a baffling trick by a maid.
DU LINIANG:
It’s getting dark.
SISTER STONE:
The moon and stars are obscure in the skies;
The fireflies glitter like the devil eyes.
DU LINIANG:
It’s time to light the lamp.
SISTER STONE:
We’ve run out of oil.
Let’s sit in the dark
And save the last drop of oil
For you to doff your dress in sparks.
DU LINIANG:
I cannot go to sleep in the long night. You’d better go and borrow some oil from the landlord.
SISTER STONE:
You just sit in the courtyard while
I’ll go and borrow some oil.
“When I go for the oil,
My tiny feet will toil.”
(Exit)
(Du Liniang gazes at the moon and sighs)
(Enter Lady Zhen and Chunxiang, travelling on the way)
LADY ZHEN (To the tune of Yueergao):
When war starts in the north,
We have to wander in the south.
As I have to go on foot,
I wear out my shoes away from my house.
My lord commands the army,
With his life oft in ordeals.
I have no one to go with me
But Chunxiang at my heels.
I have no time to do my hair,
Not even in the common Yangzhou style.
Now that we’ve arrived in Lin’an,
In the gloomy forest near the hills,
Where can I put up for the while?
CHUNXIANG:
Thank heavens! We’ve arrived in Lin’an at last.
LADY ZHEN:
Alas,
“It is a narrow escape
That we have reached Lin’an.
Where can we take refuge?
On the road we haven’t met a man.”
CHUNXIANG:
The gate ahead seems to be ajar. Let’s get in.
LADY ZHEN (Steps into the house):
It seems to be all empty house. Is there anybody in here?
DU LINIANG:
Who is it?
CHUNXIANG:
It’s a woman’s voice. I’ll ask her to open the inner door.
DU LINIANG (Taken aback):
(To the tune of Bushilu)
When I lean on the porch,
Who’s calling at the door in a voice so soft and light?
LADY ZHEN:
As we have travelled late,
We ask you to put us up for the night.
DU LINIANG:
Judging from the voice,
They are not men;
I’ll open the door and have a look in the moonlight.
(Du Liniang and Lady Zhen greet each other)
DU LINIANG:
Oh, it’s a lady. Come in and sit down please.
LADY ZHEN:
A helping hand is of great worth,
Both in the heaven and on earth.
DU LINIANG:
Sorry to have kept you waiting;
Sorry to have kept you waiting.
(Du Liniang and Lady Zhen look at each other)
LADY ZHEN (In surprise):
(To the previous tune)
In this dilapidated site,
Young lady,
Why do you sit alone without a light?
DU LINIANG:
In this empty court,
I watch the moon as a sport.
LADY ZHEN (Aside, to Chunxiang):
Chunxiang, whom do you think this lady looks like?
CHUNXIANG (Alarmed):
I dare not say it. She looks like Miss Du.
LADY ZHEN:
Take a quick look inside the room to see if anyone else is there. If no one else is inside the room, she must be a ghost!
(Exit Chunxiang)