The Peony Pavilion

Scene 33: Secret Consultation

Chapter 33

【Rao Di You】(The old nun enters, wearing a lotus crown and a feathered cape; her short hair cannot be held by a hairpin. She burns incense, strikes the bell, and prays with chattering teeth.) Su Zhong Qing: "In the gentle breeze, the hall and terrace echo with reed pipes. The chill of empty blue soaks the rainbow-colored garments. By the pond, deep among the lotus flowers, in the clear night a faint fragrance is smelled. Man easily ages, worldly affairs are full of obstacles, dreams are hard to last long. A bit of deep feeling, three parts of shallow earth, half a wall of setting sun." This Plum Blossom Convent was built for Miss Du. At first, Lord Du ordered Professor Chen to look after it. Within three years, he only came to collect the sacrificial rent and grain, and did not often visit. Even after Lord Du left, he deceived the gentry and commoners of the entire prefecture and county out of many donations and built a living shrine. Yesterday, as I passed by the shrine, there was pig dung and human dung. Chen Zuiliang, Chen Zuiliang, you should have someone clean it up. But before the spirit tablet of Miss Du, incense is added and water is changed every day—how solemn and pure it is! Truly: "The world has few who trust in bookish scholars; beyond the mundane, there are those who hold to pure devotion."

【Qian Qiang】(Liu Mengmei enters.) Secret assignations and hidden feelings are not matters of the human world. Waiting to speak out, he hesitates for half a day. (They meet.) (Liu Mengmei:) "The fragrance of fallen petals covers the Hall of Purple Gold." (Old Nun:) "Young man, watching the flowers, how dare you grieve alone?" (Liu Mengmei:) "The jade girl has not come, and the human world has changed." (Old Nun:) "Magus has gone, and the blue sea has turned to mulberry fields." (Liu Mengmei:) Old Aunt, since I arrived at this immortal dwelling, I have not yet paid homage to the precious hall. Today, I wish to visit it. (Old Nun:) That is proper etiquette. I will lead you forward. (They walk.) (Old Nun:) The high place is the Jade Heaven and Golden Palace; below are the Lady of Eastern Peak and the True Consort of the Southern Dipper. (A bell sounds from within; Liu Mengmei kneels and bows.) "The jade terrace amidst the gathered green in the heavens stands far opposite; the Supreme Lord dwells on high, receiving court with crimson tokens. Then Feng Yi comes to beat the drum, and one knows that the Qin maiden is skilled at playing the flute." What a splendid hall! But why is this spirit tablet on the left inscribed "Miss Du's Spirit Lord"? Which queen is this? (Old Nun:) No one has written the inscription on the spirit tablet. It is Miss Du. (Liu Mengmei:) Who is Miss Du?

【Wu Geng Zhuan】(Old Nun:) You speak of this Red Plum Courtyard—why was it established? It was built earlier by Du Canzhi. Li Niang was originally his daughter in her fragrant chamber. She died at eighteen and was temporarily buried here. Her father, promoted urgently, had no time to inscribe the spirit tablet, leaving the tablet empty. (Liu Mengmei:) Who comes to sweep her grave and offer sacrifices? (Old Nun:) The fine grave mound has left a stele inscription. But this spiritless ghost of hers has no one to sweep her grave on Cold Food Festival each year. (Liu Mengmei weeps.) If that is so, Miss Du is my beloved wife! (Old Nun, startled:) Is the scholar truly speaking? (Liu Mengmei:) Absolutely true. (Old Nun:) Then do you know on which day she was born and on which day she died?

【Qian Qiang】(Liu Mengmei:) I do not know when she was born, how could I know when she died? She died many years ago; I was born at this time. (Old Nun:) When did you hear of her death? (Liu Mengmei:) She is the one of whom I say, "In the morning I hear the Way, and in the evening I may die content." (Old Nun:) Since you are husband and wife, you should offer incense to her. (Liu Mengmei:) I fear that if I cannot serve the living, how can I serve the dead? (Old Nun:) Since she is the scholar's wife, have you ever met her? (Liu Mengmei:) It is here in this Red Plum Courtyard, made into the Chu Yang Terrace, that you happened to encounter me. (Old Nun:) Which night was that? (Liu Mengmei:) The night before last, when you were not doing good deeds. (Old Nun, startled:) The scholar has met a ghost! Is it possible? Is it possible? (Liu Mengmei:) If you do not believe, I will show you a supernatural power. Fetch a brush, and I will make her spirit tablet move. (Old Nun:) Is this possible? Here is the brush. (Liu Mengmei touches it:) Watch me turn stone into a person, relying on the husband to be the master. Look, look! (Old Nun, startled:) Strange! Strange indeed! The spirit tablet truly moves! Oh, Miss!

【Qian Qiang】I thought it was a plum tree before the grave, standing with an uninscribed stele; it turns out that the willow spirit is entwined in the incense burner. Scholar, since she is your wife, you should beat the basin and sing, and observe the three-year mourning by the grave. (Liu Mengmei:) I must also raise her up. (Old Nun:) Do you truly have such supernatural powers? Could it be that Yama, the King of Hell, is you? (Liu Mengmei:) I am short of some hands to use. (Old Nun:) You as the husband, she as the person—you can command ghosts. (Liu Mengmei:) You must also lend a hand with a shovel of earth. (Old Nun:) The Great Ming Code says: Opening a coffin and seeing the corpse, regardless of whether principal or accessory, all are beheaded! You, a Song scholar, are not familiar with the imperial Ming statutes—this is not an ordinary matter of climbing over walls or digging holes. (Liu Mengmei:) That is no problem—it is Miss's own idea.

【Qian Qiang】She is one from the underworld, entreating you. Among the people in this affair, who can be like you? (Old Nun:) Since Miss has instructed, let me choose an auspicious day. (Looks.) Fortunately, tomorrow is the day of Yiyou, suitable for opening the grave. (Liu Mengmei:) I am glad it is not the day of the Ox, but the Golden Rooster and Jade Dog. I only need to find someone to be the mountain-opening strongman. (Old Nun:) I have a nephew called Laitou Yuan (Scabby-headed Turtle) who can be used. But what if the matter is exposed? (Liu Mengmei:) As long as she returns to life, we avoid making it public; let us stop discussing it for now. Are there any thieves who steal incense and jade or rob graves? There is one more thing: if Miss returns to life, she will need some soul-settling medicinal decoction. (Old Nun:) Professor Chen runs a pharmacy. We can say that the young nun the other day encountered a malicious spirit and needs medicine to settle her soul. (Liu Mengmei:) Please go quickly. This seven-storied pagoda is no child's play.

(Old Nun:) Damp clouds like dreams, rain like dust. (Cui Lu)

(Liu Mengmei:) First visiting Li Shaojun west of the city. (Chen Yu)

(Old Nun:) Walking to where the lovely lady perished. (Yong Tao)

(Liu Mengmei:) Brushing aside wild grass with my hand to look at the lonely grave. (Liu Changqing)