Scene 2: Declaring Intentions

Scene 2: Unburdening the Heart

【Pearl Screen】 (Liu Mengmei enters) The old noble house of Hedong—the Liu clan was the most illustrious of names. Tracing the constellations, it links the Star of the Stretch with the Star of the Ghost. Passed down through generations, we have become impoverished scholars, battered by wind and rain. In vain they say that within books lie wealth and honor—what “face like jade” or “house of gold” can be found? Poverty and lowliness grind a man’s spirit to ashes; for now, I shall nurture this vast, righteous energy. 【Partridge Sky】 “Scraped clean the frost from the whale’s back, the poor scholar delights in dwelling in hot lands. Relying on the Creator’s three-tenths of fortune, I inherit the fragrance of the Poetic Canon’s line. Able to bore through walls to steal light, to tie hair to a beam—such diligence, a wondrous hand pens brocade essays. I must chop down the cassia branch in the Moon Palace before I believe the jade axe’s edge in this mortal world.” I, young master, am surnamed Liu, given name Mengmei, styled Chunqing. Originally I am a descendant of Liu Zongyuan, the Marshal of Liuzhou in the Tang Dynasty; my family remains in Lingnan. My father held the office of Court Gentleman for Comprehensive Duty; my mother received the title of County Mistress. (Sighs) How hateful that I was orphaned young, my family estate meager. How joyful that now I have grown to manhood, past twenty, naturally intelligent, able to succeed in all three sessions of the civil examinations. I only resent that I have not met with favorable timing, and cannot escape hunger and cold. I rely entirely on our ancestor, the Lord of Liuzhou, who brought along a certain Guo Tuotuo, who planted flowers and fruits in the Liuzhou yamen. Tuotuo left behind a Tuotuo grandson, who also follows me in Guangzhou to plant trees—we depend on each other to get through the days. Yet even so, this is no place for a man to establish his career. My spirit is dazed day by day; suddenly, half a month ago, I had a dream. I dreamed of a garden, and beneath a plum tree stood a beautiful woman, neither tall nor short, as if seeing me off and welcoming me. She said, ‘Scholar Liu, Scholar Liu, only when you meet me will you have the fate of marriage, and the time to rise in the world.’ Therefore I changed my name to Mengmei, styled Chunqing. Truly: ‘Dreams short or long are all but dreams; years come and go—what year is this?’

【Ninefold Return】 【Unbinding the Third Cup】 Though I have changed my name and altered my style, could that lovely one have foreseen it without divination? Surely she awaits the auspicious day of plucking the cassia in the Moon Palace; Liu Mengmei will never sell fake goods. Yet I fear the Moon Goddess’s jealousy of fallen blossoms, leaving me with a sour plum heart and furrowed willow brows, utterly as if drunk. 【Three Scholars】 Without fireflies, I have bored through every neighboring wall—will the man of the eastern wall not allow a peek? One day, spring light will secretly cross the golden willow; the snow’s intent will burst open the white jade plum. 【Three Urgent Shots】 At that time, galloping my horse on Zhangtai Street, the emerald silk thread will ensnare the flower’s chief. Though I say so, I have a friend, Han Zicai, a descendant of Han Changli, lodging at Zhao Tuo’s Terrace. Though he is merely a scholarly incense-bearer, he has some wit in his speech. I might as well go and share in his enjoyment.

Before the gate, willows and plums shine in the spring sun—Zhang Yaotiao

Dreaming of the sovereign, waking, I still doubt—Wang Changling

My heart is like a hundred flowers yet unbloomed—Cao Song

I must entrust my body to the ten-thousand-year branch—Han Wo