by Tang Xianzu
Joy reigns in the sky.
The man is amazed to see the beauty,
Who smiles and blows off the candlelight.
They sleep together tonight
And fetch the handkerchief when day is bright.
(To the tune of Coda)
Indeed,
Spring is the best
When they make love and take a rest.
MISS CUI:
Master Lu,
By fate we have met and wed.
I happen to make my wedding plan
When a scholar comes in sight.
Leave the porcelain pillow tonight
As my elbow will support my man.
Scene Five
Recruiting Men of Worth
(Enter Xiao Song with a manly beard)
XIAO SONG (To the tune of Shuangtianxiaojiao):
The clouds and trees down in the south
Ignore the heir of households of renown.
The verdant grass seems to feel for me,
But where is the way to the capital town?
(In the pattern of Collected Tang Poems)
When vicissitudes of life occur to all,
No one would come to knock my door.
On lavish pleasure-seeking ground,
Who’d please the royal heirs that come around?
I am Xiao Song from Lanling, alias Yizhong. I am a descendent of Xiao Yan, Emperor Wu of Liang, and the grand grandson of Xiao Yu, Duke of Song. With the passage of time, everything in the world has changed. The ancient practice of the pen and the sword has been entirely abandoned, but the ancient interest in music and art has been retained. As I am heavily built with a manly beard, I am predicted to enjoy a long life and high position. Let’s drop this subject. I have a sworn brother by the name of Pei Guangting, youngest son of Pei Xingjian, Magistrate of Wenxi County appointed by the capital governor. He is the son-in-law of Wu Sansi, a high-ranking official at the present time. He is well-versed in all the past and present anecdotes. However, he is a little bit jealous, a fault that goes with him all his life. As I haven’t seen him for several days, I’m expecting him now.
(Enter Pei Guangting, with a copy of an imperial edict in his sleeves)
PEI GUANGTING (To the previous tune):
With precious books on my shelves,
I have blue blood in my vessels now.
With the imperial recruiting edict in my sleeves.
I’ll go for exams without telling Xiao.
I, Pei Guangting, am well-learned but have not achieved anything yet. It happens that there comes an imperial edict to recruit men of worth. I’m sure that I can become the Number One Scholar, but Brother Xiao is my closest rival. An idea comes across my mind that I’ll hide the imperial edict in my sleeves and go for the exam without revealing the truth to him.
(Greets Xiao Song)
XIAO SONG:
Brother, please excuse me for having not greeted you properly as I am not in a good mood these days.
PEI GUANGTING:
I’ve come to say good-bye to you as I’m going to take a sudden leave.
XIAO SONG:
Well, why are you leaving in such a hurry?
PEI GUANGTING:
I can tell you everything except this little privacy. Bye-bye.
XIAO SONG:
Brother, what’s rustling in your sleeves?
PEI GUANGTING:
Nothing.
XIAO SONG (Grabs and inspects):
It’s some yellow paper.
PEI GUANGTING (Laughs):
It’s a Buddhist donation sheet.
XIAO SONG (Seizes the paper and reads):
“The divine emperor issues the following edict: The scholars all over the country may attend the imperial examination in the following middle March. I will decide the final result myself. The above edict must be publicised at once.” Well, it’s an imperial edict to recruit men of worth. Why are you hiding it in your sleeves?
PEI GUANGTING:
To tell you the truth, when the imperial edict to recruit men of worth arrived at our academy from the Ministry of Supervision, the teacher showed it to me. I thought about none but you because you are talented and will surely go for the examination. Therefore I hid the edict in my sleeves and would go to the capital city without telling you about it. I filled in my name only and sent in the application.
XIAO SONG (Smiles):
Is that possible? With so many scholars from all over the country, why do you just worry about me?
PEI GUANGTING (To the tune of Zaoluopao):
There are numerous scholars,
Whom I can beat
In a word or two.
All the others in the county are of no worth,
While my only rival is you.
Brother, you will become the Number One Scholar as you are brilliant. If you go for the examination, I will become number two.
XIAO SONG (Laughs):
Now I see.
PEI GUANGTING:
For Chang’e the fairy,
There cannot be two lovers.
When two join in a match,
One will be the loser.
Therefore, I will block your way.
XIAO SONG (To the previous tune):
It’s not easy to become a Number One Scholar;
As fate may favour either of us,
Who knows what will happen?
You keep the edict to yourself,
To prevent others from knowing about it.
For one thing, I can at least make way for you in the examination.
If I bring my talent into full play,
You are none of my rival.
If I do not bring my talent into full play,
You can still be my rival.
I’ll even give way on the final contest day.
PEI GUANGTING:
In that case, thank you for your kindness! Let’s have a drink of Laurel Red at the inn.
XIAO SONG (To the tune of Coda):
Before we finish two kettles of wine,
We’ll go to Chang’an the capital town.
Brother,
The laurel will be either yours or mine.
Young scholars live a simple way of life
To study classics in weathers hot and cold.
When they have mastered arts of pen and sword,
They serve the emperor with hearts of gold.
Scene Six
Funding for the Imperial Examination
(Enter Miss Cui)
MISS CUI (To the tune of Raochiyou):
To please my sweetheart
I’ve done my best to give and take
And stay by his side when I wake.
(Enter Maidservant and Meixiang in smiles)
MAIDSERVANT, MEIXIANG:
The man and wife embrace each other
In bed in the dim light.
What an enticing night!
MISS CUI (In the pattern of Chounu’er):
Inside scarlet walls with red blooms and quiet paths,
Visitors seldom arrive.
MAIDSERVANT:
With heavenly bliss,
A stranger trespassed the yard.
MEIXIANG:
When we found him behind the hibiscus trellis,
He’d be punished in private or in court.
MAIDSERVANT, MEIXIANG:
Now that he stays here,
He’s in ecstasy with his wife.
MAIDSERVANT:
Sister, a Master Lu dropped from the sky.
MEIXIANG:
Not a Master Lu but a Master Donkey dropped from the sky.
MISS CUI:
You silly maids! You are telling the naked truth. As my family has not accepted a son-in-law without office for seven generations, I’ll send him to attend the imperial examinations. What do you think about it?
MAIDSERVANT:
Wonderful! When he comes into office, you will become a distinguished lady.
(Enter Lu Sheng)
LU SHENG
(To the tune of Busuanzi):
A long chat goes with a long night;
A broad love goes with a broad quilt.
A beauty graceful and coy
Fills me with great joy.
(Lu Sheng and Miss Cui greet each other)
MISS CUI:
Master Lu,
(In the pattern of Collected Tang Poems)
You enjoy your life ignoring fame,
LU SHENG:
As I enjoy Utopian life here best.
MISS CUI:
With flower-brewed wine to entertain the guest,
LU SHENG:
I have a fairy beauty to my claim.
MISS CUI:
Master Lu, since I married you here, we’ve become man and wife. By enjoying ourselves day and night to the best of our hearts’ content, we have tasted all the pleasures of human life. However, as my family has not accepted a son-in-law without office for seven generations, what do you think of your official career?
LU SHENG:
To tell you the truth, I’ve read all the classics but haven’t made much progress in these years. Now that we are living a happy life by heavenly bliss, I won’t care about an official career.
MISS CUI:
Alas, how can a scholar talk like this? May I ask how many examinations you have attended?
LU SHENG (To the tune of Zhunu’er):
I have forgotten how many exams I attended,
But the examiners never mind what I write.
All those who are at the top of the list
Are from families of wealth and might.
ALL:
When fame and name
Come at the right time,
The prime minister will be yours to claim.
MISS CUI:
Families of wealth and might are not to blame. As you do not have many connections and you have not achieved fame, you have been delayed. Now that most of my relatives are in key positions, you have to pay respects to them when you arrive in Chang’an.
LU SHENG:
Yes, I see.
MISS CUI:
Besides, it’s by no means easy to contact these high officials. With the help of my elder brother, you can easily become the Number One Scholar.
LU SHENG:
Will he do that for me?
MISS CUI:
No problem.
(To the previous tune)
As long as you have the help of my brother,
I do not care about silver or gold.
But for him,
You can hardly succeed;
He will help you beat the others.
ALL:
When fame and name
Come at the right time,
The prime minister will be yours to claim.
LU SHENG:
But I haven’t met your brother yet.
MISS CUI:
Who do you think my brother is? He is money. All my money is at your disposal to do the bribery.
LU SHENG (Smiles):
Now I see. Thank you for your kindness. To answer for the imperial edict to recruit men of worth, I’ll spend all the money you give me to induce the top officials and every word in my essays will become a pearl in their eyes.
MISS CUI:
That’s it. Meixiang, fetch some wine to see my man off.
(Hands over the wine)
(To the tune of Yanlaihong)
Fill the golden cup with wine
And rein the horse to see off my man.
Without a word he looks at the cup and drains it;
Then he refills the cup
And retains his tears at best he can.
ALL:
With straining eyes
We shall expect your success
And hope for good news without surprise.
LU SHENG (To the previous tune):
A muddle-headed country scholar
Wins a wife with ambition,
Who gives me gold for my fame.
I hold her hands for a long time,
Before taking a short leave to win a good name.
ALL:
With straining eyes
We shall expect your success
And hope for good news without surprise.
MISS CUI (Makes a bow):
(To the tune of Coda)
You will come back as a renowned spouse;
During this trip,
Be sure not to trespass any place
And I’ll be expecting you with knitted brows.
While the emperor values men of worth,
What really values is wealth.
If essays can be done by stealth,
How much is a Number One Scholar worth?
Scene Seven
Rivalling for the Number One Scholar
(Enter Yuwen Rong)
YUWEN RONG (To the tune of Yexingchuan):
Yuwen is a family from Late Wei,
With power and energy in its heyday.
A commanding power
At the royal court,
I stand at the head of ministers.
(In the pattern of Collected Tang Poems)
With ancestor’s power at my back,
I have made another fresh start.
With the best scholars at my heels,
I have followers in every craft and art.
I am Yuwen Rong, Left Prime Minister and Inspector of National Taxation in the Tang Dynasty. I am fond of slanders and good at bribery. When the imperial edict was issued to recruit men of worth, I was entrusted by His Majesty to mark the papers and recommend the best scholars. All my life I have catered to the taste of His Majesty and ingratiated myself to those in power. I’ve found among the papers one written by a Xiao Song from Lanling County, who is indeed a rare talent, a rare talent. Although he is the descendent of Emperor Wu of Liang, the ruler of the former dynasty, I do not care so much about it. There is also a Pei Guangting from Wenxi County, son of the late prime minister Pei Xingjian and son-in-law of Wu Sansi. He is not so talented as Xiao Song, but I’ll rank him as the first and Xiao Song as the second. I’ve submitted my proposal to His Majesty, but I don’t know what His Majesty thinks about it. When the eunuch arrives, I’ll try to find out what His Majesty thinks. Attendants, wait outside the door.
(Enter Eunuch Gao)
EUNUCH GAO (To the tune of Fendie’er):
From the palace the green scholar-tree leaves
Reach the examination-room eaves.
ATTENDANT (Announces):
Here comes Eunuch Gao, the Ritual Missionary.
YUWEN RONG (Hurries to greet Eunuch Gao):
If I had known about your arrival, I would have gone a long way to meet you.
EUNUCH GAO:
It’s so kind of you, Your Excellency. I know that you have been busy marking the papers these days.
YUWEN RONG:
I’m just going to submit a secret report to you. May I ask whether His Majesty has decided on the Number One Scholar?
EUNUCH GAO:
Yes.
YUWEN RONG:
Is it Pei Guangting?
EUNUCH GAO:
No.
YUWEN RONG:
Is it Xiao Song?
EUNUCH GAO:
Mention some other name.
YUWEN RONG:
I don’t remember the names after them.
EUNUCH GAO:
You know,
(To the tune of Yifengshu)
His Majesty has read the papers all along
And decided on Scholar Lu from the east of Mount Taihang.
YUWEN RONG (Thinks hard):
Scholar Lu from the east of Mount Taihang?
EUNUCH GAO:
His name is Lu Sheng.
I don’t know how his essay
Has pleased His Majesty.
YUWEN RONG:
Eunuch Gao, has His Majesty indeed decided on Lu Sheng?
EUNUCH GAO:
I saw His Majesty write on his paper
And Lu Sheng will soon be bestowed the
robe of honour.
ALL:
To attend the royal banquet
As the Number One,
He beat the others and won.
YUWEN RONG:
How strange, how strange! Then, where do Pei and Xiao rank?
EUNUCH GAO:
Xiao ranks second and Pei ranks third.
YUWEN RONG (To the previous tune):
(Aside)
I have decided on Xiao and Pei,
But how does it fall on the bastard Lu?
(To Eunuch Gao)
It is indeed by fate
That he is held in esteem by the great.
EUNUCH GAO:
You know, it’s not His Majesty’s views alone. Lu Sheng has got acquainted with all the powerful men in the court and they all say that he is the most talented. I myself have seen his graceful calligraphy.
YUWEN RONG:
I see.
He knows how to push forward his essay,
But I am blind in the broad day.
ALL:
To attend the royal banquet
As the Number One,
He beat the others and won.
EUNUCH GAO:
I must take leave now. Your Excellency is to attend the royal banquet tomorrow.
(To the tune of Coda)
In the royal garden you’ll help to entertain.
YUWEN RONG:
Of course you’ll sit at the front.
EUNUCH GAO (Smiles):
I can walk around at the royal court,
Able to assist those who’d like to win fame and name.
(Exit)
YUWEN RONG (To himself):
How ridiculous, how ridiculous! I’ve decided on a Number One Scholar, but Lu Sheng has manoeuvred to grab the title and he didn’t even curry favour with me!
The royal court can hardly be controlled
And I am getting angry from day to day.
If high positions can be bought with gold,
He who ranks high needn’t write an essay.
Scene Eight
Royal Banquet
(Enter the Royal Chef, wearing a kerchief and a flower on his head)
ROYAL CHEF:
I am a chef for the Royal Banquet Hall, number one among the 300 chefs. I can cut thin slices and use right seasonings. I can knead glossy steamed bread and make straight noodles. I can also make light pastry and tasty delicacies. So many dishes are served at a banquet that they are more for sight than for taste. The taste of my dishes makes people enticed and the sight of my dishes makes their mouths water. I have cooked not only for the ministers but also for the royal house. Emperor Xuanzong is most fond of my green-onion sausage and Empress Taizhen is most fond of my palace-style dumplings. As a louse was found in a soup for the royal house, I was cudgelled by my superior and dismissed from service. Thanks to the help of my adopted nephew, I was re-employed under a false name.