Chapter Eleven: In the Fragrant Breeze Hall the Sovereign and His Ministers Select a Play — At Suizhou the General and His Men Fall into Captivity

It is told that Yang Longyou, after rescuing Xianggun from the snow where she had been kicked down following her denunciation of Ruan Dacheng, arranged for her to be sent into the Inner Court. Fearing there would be no one to watch over the Meixiang Tower, he invited Lan Tianshu to stay there temporarily as a caretaker — but this is a separate matter.

On the day in question, the new sovereign Hongguang had all the selected entertainers and courtesans brought into the Xunfeng Hall, to await the selection of roles so that rehearsals for the theatrical performances might begin. But the performers assigned the male leads, female leads, and comic roles had no idea what they were supposed to do. Ruan Dacheng was serving in the Inner Court, and went first to inspect the women among them. Not seeing Xianggun, he asked: "Where is Li Zhenli?" The others replied: "Ever since she took that fall in the snow, she has been enduring the pain and is still lying out there in the corridor." Ruan Dacheng said: "The imperial presence will soon arrive to select the roles so that the performance can be rehearsed — she cannot get away with it." In vexation he said: "That wretched creature is insufferable; today we cannot do without her for the clown's role!"

While he was still speaking, the sound of bells was heard, and two palace eunuchs appeared bearing dragon-handled fans, leading Hongguang out to take his seat on the throne. He said: "We have been on the throne and ruling the realm for nearly a year. It is thanks to the four garrison commanders forming a shield that the roving bandits have been unable to advance south. Yesterday there were rebellious ministers who proposed installing the Prince of Lu on the throne — they have already been arrested and imprisoned. For now, foreign threats are held at bay and internal troubles have not arisen. We are in the process of selecting virtuous ladies to be installed as Empress — but these are minor matters. The one thing is: We possess the dignity of a sovereign, yet We are without the pleasures of music and beautiful company. Sitting high on this throne in solitary grandeur — how terribly dull!" Ruan Dacheng, standing at his side, submitted a memorial: "Your servant, Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments Ruan Dacheng, respectfully inquires after Your Majesty's well-being." Hongguang bade him rise, and then said to Ruan Dacheng: "The season is now full spring, with lingering snow and early blossoms, and yet We find Ourself too listless to go out and too bored to play — how has this come about?" Ruan Dacheng knelt and replied: "Your Majesty is destined to enjoy the peace of a great era, and it is entirely right that Your Majesty should pursue pleasure. But to be too listless to go out and too bored to play — whatever is the reason for this?" Hongguang said: "Our thoughts — I presume you already know them." Ruan Dacheng knew perfectly well, but feigned ignorance and put on a look of bewilderment: "Your servant is dull and Your Majesty's thoughts are lofty and deep — I truly cannot fathom them. I humbly beg that Your Majesty will speak plainly, so that I may help relieve Your concern." Hongguang said: "We will tell you then. We are the Son of Heaven — what could We not obtain? Only, the work you offered, The Swallow Letter, is the great music of a new age of restoration, the primary ornament of this era of peace. Today is already the ninth day of the first month, and the roles have still not been selected; if by chance the Lantern Festival is missed, would that not be most vexing?" He pointed to a couplet in Wang Duo's calligraphy: "'Nothing in life compares to cup in hand; / in a hundred years, how often does the moon shine full?' How many Lantern Festivals can one year hold? That is why We have been consumed with anxiety, eating and sleeping poorly." Ruan Dacheng knelt before the hall and said: "So it is this trifling little entertainment that has been troubling Your Majesty's mind — it is entirely your servant's fault for not attending to it sooner. I dare not but exert myself to the utmost to repay Your Majesty's trust in me. But I wonder which roles are still lacking in the Inner Court's musical company?" Hongguang said: "The other roles can make do, but the male lead, female lead, and comic lead do not satisfy Us." Ruan Dacheng submitted: "The musical companions and courtesans sent in by the Ministry of Rites are waiting in the outer hall to be selected. Your Majesty need only issue an edict for me to proclaim it and call them into the hall to be reviewed." Hongguang approved the memorial and at once ordered Ruan Dacheng to proclaim the edict and summon them into the hall.

Hongguang looked over the whole company and asked one by one: "Can all of you perform the new play The Swallow Letter?" Everyone responded that they had performed it before. Only Xianggun lay prostrate and said nothing. Hongguang asked: "Why does that young singing-girl not speak?" Xianggun submitted: "From childhood I have never studied it." Ruan Dacheng seized the opportunity to submit: "Since she has not studied it, by convention she should be assigned the clown's role, while those who have studied it should be assigned the male and female leads." Hongguang said: "If that is the established convention, it shall be as you submit." He then asked Xianggun: "If you have not studied The Swallow Letter, what else do you know?" Xianggun submitted again: "I have studied The Peony Pavilion." Hongguang said: "Then perform and sing a passage from The Peony Pavilion for Us!" A blush spread across Xianggun's face. Hongguang said: "Look at how her powdered face is flushing red — she seems bashful. Reward her with a peach blossom fan to hold before her, so the blossoming color may veil her spring-flush." Xianggun received the fan and rose in gratitude, then sang:

For what reason does the Jade Maiden retrace her steps to the Wuling Spring?

It is only because water-spots and falling flowers float before her eyes.

It is Heaven's self that spares no coin to purchase the blossoms —

Yet the longing heart of a person holds within it the red-stained grief of weeping.

Alas — to have wasted the three months of spring.

[To the tune "Lazy Painting of Eyebrows"]

Hongguang was delighted: "This girl's voice and appearance are both excellent — it is far too great a pity to cast her as the clown. Better to swap in that dark-complexioned one in her place." He then ordered the long attendants to fill the cups, and after drinking heartily laughed and said: "Those two can already sing and perform, and this younger one will not be difficult to train — clearly the Lantern Festival will not be missed, which greatly gladdens Our heart. Long attendants, fill the cups once more! We shall play a round of shiyuan ensemble music together. We excel at the drum — you each take an instrument, and play quickly now!" And so they performed the suite "Rain Mixed with Snow." When it was done, Hongguang said with great delight: "Nine parts in ten of Our anxiety have dissolved! Long attendants — have the fair copy that Wang Duo transcribed given to this girl, and let her remain in the Xunfeng Hall to study it for three days until she has it by heart, so she may go and learn the vocal parts. Those who already know the work may lead her into the company." Ruan Dacheng and all the others accepted their orders and withdrew. Only Xianggun remained in the Xunfeng Hall, reading through her part. Indeed:

Even were the spring wind to find a way in,

The long gate would keep the crimson peach blossom locked within.

Now, Hou Chaozong had gone at Commander Shi's orders with General-in-Chief Gao Jie to guard the river at Suizhou. But Gao Jie had a wayward and erratic temperament, and insulted General Xu Dingguo openly to his face. Fearing this would provoke a conflict that could not be contained, Chaozong presented himself before Gao Jie and tried every means to pacify and mediate. But Gao Jie was a man of brawn and no wit — how would he listen to Chaozong's words? Fearing that some unforeseen disaster might befall him, Chaozong took his leave of Gao Jie with firm insistence and made his escape. After this, Gao Jie strutted about with a manner of looking down on all, as though nothing in the world was worth his notice.

But then Xu Dingguo, following the secret stratagem of his wife, Lady Hou, sent men carrying his personal seal and credential tablets to invite Gao Jie into the city for a banquet, on the pretext of inspecting the troops. Gao Jie suspected nothing. He brought two trusted subordinate officers with him to Xu Dingguo's official residence to drink and review the troops. At the city bridge, men knelt to receive them. Gao Jie arrived at the bridge and asked: "What official are you, and where do you come from?" They replied: "We are men sent by General Xu Dingguo." He asked again: "Why has Xu Dingguo not come himself?" They said: "General Xu Dingguo has taken ill and cannot rise. He has specially sent us to deliver the seal and tablets and to invite the Marshal to enter the city for the feast, so that the troops may then be reviewed." Gao Jie felt not the slightest suspicion; cheerfully accepting the seal and tablets, he entered the yamen with the company and ordered: "Bring the wine — let me drink my fill and then go inspect the troops."

Before long the feast was fully prepared. Gao Jie drank with his two officers until he was thoroughly drunk. He had just risen to his feet when, suddenly, a cannon shot rang out. Xu Dingguo's household soldiers, blades in hand, cut down the two officers. Only Gao Jie was nowhere to be found, and a great shout went up: "Gao Jie has escaped — find him, find him!" Torches were lit throughout and a search was made in every direction. One officer looked up and said: "A roof-tile has been broken through — he must have climbed over the roof." Another officer went up to look and reported: "On the ridge of that roof there is a dim shape that looks like a person — shoot arrows quickly!" Gao Jie, left with no recourse, leapt down from the roof. The men seized him, and after looking him over recognized him: "We have him!" Gao Jie cried out: "I have come on the Emperor's orders to guard the river! Who dares to harm me?" The men said: "We only answer to our General Xu — we know nothing of black or yellow, whoever you may be. Just stretch out your neck!" Gao Jie stamped his feet and said: "I regret not heeding Chaozong's counsel — to have come to this today!" He stretched out his neck: "Take my head!" The men offered Gao Jie's head to Xu Dingguo, who then ordered all his officers to slip out of the city quietly under cover of night, taking Gao Jie's head with them, and go over to the Northern Court to present it in surrender — and thus the northern armies crossed the river and advanced southward.

What happened next — listen to the following chapter for the telling.