by Tang Xianzu
(Enter Li Yi)
LI YI (To the tune of Busuanzi):
Phoenixes fly around me,
Surrounded by auspicious clouds.
With my name reputed all over the capital,
I will soon see His Majesty.
ALL:
Number One Scholar, please express your gratitude for His Majesty’s favour.
LI YI (Expresses his gratitude):
(To the tune of Diliuzi)
The Saintly Emperor,
The Saintly Emperor will reign over the world eternally.
The Virtuous Ministers,
The Virtuous Ministers are firm pillars of the Empire.
The selected most talented scholar
Will be sent to the Penglai Palace.
My gratitude goes to His Majesty
For his palace robes and grand feast,
All scented with the imperial incense.
ALL:
Now please show Number One Scholar to the feast!
(Move)
(To the previous tune)
We smile at the past,
We smile at the articles written in the past;
We rejoice at the present,
We rejoice at the imperial music and songs at present.
With curtains all rolled up along the capital streets,
People see what it’s like to be flushed with success in the spring wind.
With auspicious clouds floating over the blooming flowers,
The scholar gets intoxicated at the feast by the Qujiang River.
(To the tune of Coda)
Flowers with ringing bells bloom all over the garden
To show boundless elegance and wealth,
Leaving stories to pass from generation to generation.
Thousands of people are making merry in the capital,
While trees are bearing peaches by the Qujiang River.
This is where you express your gratitude for a grand career
And drink to your heart’s content in silken robes.
Scene Twenty-Two
General Lu’s Rage and His Scheme
(Enter General Lu)
GENERAL LU (To the tune of Yiluosuo):
Stepping out of the palace bearing my sword now,
I have got steady promotion in my official career.
With students and attendants all around me,
I’m sure no one dares to disobey my orders and wills!
“I hold up the sky with the mightiest power,
With silken robes and jewel belts showing my youthful vigour.
The rich and powerful in Luoyang are eager to accompany me,
While most scholars are my enthusiastic students and attendants.”
I, General Lu, have served His Majesty for a long time, assisting Him in the state affairs. As the imperial examination is held in Luoyang, I’ve ordered all the scholars who passed the examinations to pay visits at my residence. When the results were released yesterday, I noticed that a scholar by the name of Li Yi from Longxi was conferred the title of Number One Scholar. But when I checked the register book of my residence, I did not find his name. How arrogant and outrageous he is! How infuriating he is! How infuriating! Now I have a scheme. Yesterday Liu Gongji, Governor of the Yumen Pass, sent a report asking for a military consultant. I will appoint Li Yi to take the position and never allow him to return to the capital.
He will fall into my trap. Secretary!
(Enter Secretary)
SECRETARY:
“Attendants line up in the Prime Minister’s hall
When spring flowers blossom in the city of Luoyang.”
Here I am, my lord. What can I do for you?
GENERAL LU:
All the scholars have paid respects to me at the hall, except for the new Number One Scholar Li Yi. Now I have recommended him to be the military consultant at the Yumen Pass. Go to the office and have the recommendation report drafted.
(To the tune of Fengtie’er)
The report says that his writing style is mighty for a general;
Yet there are no records about him in the Imperial Academy.
Governor Liu,
Asks for a military consultant with high reputation.
GENERAL LU, SECRETARY:
It must be executed with care,
For secret military reports are most urgent.
SECRETARY:
I see.
GENERAL LU:
And more to add,
(To the previous tune)
As war is imminent at the Yumen Pass,
You draft the edict ordering him to set off without delay.
The official appointment is urgent,
So order him not to take any rest at home.
GENERAL LU, SECRETARY:
It must be executed with care,
For secret military reports are most urgent.
An idiot of a scholar as he is,
He’ll go to the border for his stubbornness.
Gentlemen must have a sense of justice,
While politicians must have a sense of malice.
Scene Twenty-Three
Joy over His Glorious Return
(Enter Huo Xiaoyu and Huansha)
HUO XIAOYU (To the tune of Xiqianying):
Now that the sky is clearing up and magpies are tweeting,
We have to part soon after our wedding,
And he might be listening to the orioles in the imperial garden.
With clouds in the sky
And mists over the river,
It’s time to enjoy the tenderness of spring.
Why does my sorrow seem to return like silk threads?
Why does my dream seem to stop around the incense smoke?
In spring drowsiness
When the setting sun throws light on my dress,
I wish that my man would soon return to renew our love.
“For his wonderful writing he is called to the palace gate,
Distinguishing himself as the most talented scholar in Luoyang.
The east wind does not visit the beauty behind the curtain,
But favours the contented scholar by the flowers.”
Last night, I dreamed that my man had passed the examination and I was dressed up to accompany him to his new post. How happy I was!
(To the tune of Erlangshen)
Leaning against the rail in the spring breeze,
I see my man standing in the flower shade by the Luoyang Bridge.
A belle tries to unbutton the neck of her spring dress,
And adds incense to the burner with her fine fingers,
With fragrance as enchanting as that from Xun Yu of old.
He urges his belle
To wear her best to tour the office.
I awaken from my dream
To dress up before the mirror with my back to the gauze window.
(To the previous tune)
I still remember
The wine and powder stains on my sleeves upon departure.
HUANSHA:
Mr. Li must have had a lot of fun parading the streets.
HUO XIAOYU:
I think he may also feel lovesick for me.
I’m reluctant to rise though the sun is high,
And find excuse for my drowsiness in spring intoxication.
HUANSHA:
Look at the gossamer signifying the best luck in the early morning!
HUO XIAOYU:
After the drizzle and mist,
It clears up and the lucky spider comes out.
But spring in full display makes the dainty brows knit.
Gazing in deep thought,
I hear the orioles warble in touching tunes.
(Enter Lady Zheng)
LADY ZHENG (To the tune of Wanxiandeng):
Amid warm greetings for the carriages,
The new Number One Scholar will come along the street.
Xiaoyu, the Prefect is arriving to greet Number One Scholar. It’s said to be Mr. Li. Get the flutes a
nd drums ready at once for the celebration.
(Enter Li Yi with his attendants)
LI YI (To the tune of Qitianle):
In the long spring day along the busy capital streets,
The scholar returns to his residential hall in full splendour.
With carriages blocking the view of flowers,
And the horses stopping by the meadow,
The distinction today is fabulous.
(Greets all)
“After I presented my writing and entered the dragon gate,
The phoenix sent me the edict for my success.
With warm sunshine and colourful flowers all along the way,
I saw the painted bridal house in front of my eyes.”
LADY ZHENG:
Our Number One Scholar has received the most honorable title from His Majesty. Congratulations! Congratulations!
LI YI:
Soon after my arrival in Chang’an, I received the imperial edict for my conferment. Thanks for your compliment! Thanks for your compliment!
LADY ZHENG:
Fetch the wine, Huansha.
(Enter Huansha)
HUANSHA:
“In green silken robes bestowed by His Majesty,
He drinks the best wine for Number One Scholar.”
Here’s the wine.
LADY ZHENG (To the tune of Huameixu):
Flowers warm the city of Luoyang,
As if the Heyang peach blossoms had returned.
What a joy to extol the scholar
And send him to soar to the sky.
He has returned with the spring laurel,
And brought back the auspicious clouds.
ALL:
As the title of Number One Scholar matches the family status,
We celebrate the success with flutes and drums in our painted hall.
HUO XIAOYU (To the previous tune):
You shot the peacock screen and became the bridegroom;
You showed your talent and became the Number One Scholar.
Take me with you as the County Lady
While you are still young.
You have Sima Xiangru’s ambition and style,
And Prefect Zhang Chang’s loving care to pencil his wife’s brows.
ALL:
As the title of Number One Scholar matches the family status,
We celebrate the success with flutes and drums in our painted hall.
LI YI (To the previous tune):
I still remember the day under the plum tree,
A spring scene in the south that warmed my heart.
I’m happy that the Moon Goddess gave consent,
And the plum blossoms linked us together.
My hat touched the plum blossoms under the moon,
And her hairpins got caught on the plum tree in the moonlight.
ALL:
As the title of Number One Scholar matches the family status,
We celebrate the success with flutes and drums in our painted hall.
HUANSHA, QIUHONG (To the previous tune):
Spring fills up the fairy mountain;
Candles are lit in the lanterns and incense smoke curls up from the burner.
How he catches her eye in his silken robes,
As she wears her black hair colourfully dressed!
Merciful rain and dew ripen the celestial peaches;
Spring breeze blows, swallows fly and apricot flowers bloom.
ALL:
As the title of Number One Scholar matches the family status,
We celebrate the success with flutes and drums in our painted hall.
(Enter the envoy)
ENVOY:
“Travellers come and go every day on the road;
Orioles’ warbling can be heard everywhere.
I’ve come to inform the scholar of the Imperial Academy
To take his position at the Yumen Pass.”
I serve as General Lu’s subordinate officer. I’ve come all the way to inform Number One Scholar Li Yi to take the position of military consultant at Governor Liu’s Guanxi Prefecture, and urge him to depart for the border post without delay. Here I am.
(Notifies and meets Li Yi)
LI YI:
I’ve already accepted the imperial appointment. Please allow me a few days before I set out.
ENVOY:
That’ll do. I’ll be waiting to the west of the Bating Pavilion.
(Exit)
HUO XIAOYU (Asks in surprise):
That officer outside, where did he inform you to go?
LI YI (In a subdued voice):
The imperial edict urged me to go to the Yumen Pass to be Governor Liu’s military consultant. But I’ll be returning soon.
LADY ZHENG (To the tune of Diliuzi):
Forget about the long and rough journey for the moment,
But go into the west chamber to spend the night.
Seize the time to enjoy your youth,
As we expect good news
And expect our bridegroom to return home soon.
Oh, why can’t my son-in-law stay long with my daughter?
LI YI:
I’m drunk.
HUO XIAOYU (Supports Li Yi):
(To the tune of Baolaocui)
With blessing from Heaven,
I respect my man for his talent
And support him in his drunkenness.
Instead of getting drunk as such,
You must show your grand style and manners
To chant and sing.
I’ll accompany you till the end of spring
When you parade the capital streets in fragrant breeze
And we’ll start our happy life anew.
ALL (To the tune of Shuangshengzi):
The family thrives, the family thrives;
The scholar returns in silken robes in charming spring.
This is no fluke, this is no fluke;
It’s the man’s happy lot and the wife’s good fortune.
What a perfect match! What a perfect match!
What imperial grace! What imperial grace!
In admiration for the man’s honour and the wife’s distinction,
We wish them everlasting happiness.
(To the tune of Coda)
From now on the perfect couple ride in a grand carriage in the capital,
Thanks to the grace of His Majesty.
LI YI:
But I’m afraid I’ll have to leave the capital in dismay.
With guards of honour leading the horses in spring,
The scholar returns home in silken robes with grace.
He shows his best like the golden peacock in full display,
But remembers not to have the mirror broken into two.
Scene Twenty-Four
A Farewell Chat
(Enter Lady Zheng)
LADY ZHENG (To the tune of Bubujiao):
When colourful clouds disperse and the Qin flute music ends,
They’ll say farewell near the flowing imperial river,
With soft choking weeps from time to time.
The departing horses startle the fragrant flowers,
While the rolling wheels seem to spin around the moon.
Dust in gusty wind covers the sky over the frontier;
My son-in-law has to depart soon with a farewell song.
(In the pattern of Yejinmen)
“We can’t ask him to stay,
And it’s no good asking him to stay.
Xiaoyu sheds tears on her red sleeves by the window;
She stays in solitude in her chamber.
Why does he have to tear away from her once again?
The willows are weeping today at the Baling Bridge.
Mandarin ducks all stay in pairs;
How can I bear seeing my daughter staying alone?”
I’m Lady Zheng. My daughter Xiaoyu is married to Li Yi who passed the spring examination and became the Number One Scholar. However, soon after he entered the Imperial Academy, he was ass
igned to be the military consultant on the western frontier. I hear that the military actions against the Tubo forces are urgent on the western border.
(Sorrowfully)
Oh, my daughter!
(To the tune of Zuifugui)
The couple’s quilt has just been made ready for the bed;
The pair of pillows have just been made fit for sleep.
The couple can’t be away from each other even for a while,
Yet wind blows and shakes all the decorations of saucers and plates.
As the lady’s carriage can’t go along with the gentleman’s horse,
The appointment to the frontier breaks the union in the chamber.
HUANSHA (To the previous tune):
When the couple enjoyed their marital life in the capital,
How could he be assigned to write military reports in the army!
Oh, Mistress,
Last night you were packing for the master, tears running down your cheeks;
This morning his departing wheels are grinding the tenderness of your heart.
Now that the cuckoos’ cry makes people sigh,
When are you going to meet again?
(Enter Bao Siniang)
BAO SINIANG:
“When spring grows old in changeable weather,
People in sadness feel the slow passage of time.
They listen to orioles’ whistling as time passes by
And seem to complain the departure of willow catkins.”
I hear that Mr. Li has returned home as Number One Scholar, but he is going far away for the military mission. I’m taking the fine spring day to see the scholar off for his long march to the front.
(Greets Lady Zheng)
Your Ladyship, for your son-in-law’s long expedition, how bitterly you weep as I can see from the corners of your eyes!
LADY ZHENG:
How unfortunate we are!
(Enter Li Yi)
LI YI (To the tune of Nüguanzi):
With my eyes filled with departing sorrow,
I steal a look at the coupling swords.
In my wandering mind,
I dream of banners waving,
War horses neighing,
And phoenixes soaring.
(Enter Huo Xiaoyu)
HUO XIAOYU:
My tears pour on the dressing table,
As I’ll send you off to the frontier,
The talented scholar of Luoyang.
ALL:
On the old paths around the screen,
There’s been so much joy,
Yet the young scholar is going to stay away from home.
LADY ZHENG (Weeps):
