Scene 22: Guarding the Tower

SCENE 22: GUARDING THE TOWER

(An old man and a young man enter, carrying lanterns, clothes, and silver from the Grand Secretariat, following a sedan chair.)

In heaven the Old Man of the Moon never makes mistakes,

Yet on earth the Star of Matrimony blunders.

OLD MAN: We are ordered by His Excellency to forcibly take Fragrant Princess. We must hurry.

YOUNG MAN: At the Li family of the Old Quarter, mother and daughter—who can tell which is Fragrant Princess?

(A gentleman enters hastily, calling out.)

GENTLEMAN: Turn back and come with me.

OLD MAN: If Uncle Yang is willing to go, we certainly won’t take the wrong person.

(They walk together.)

Moonlight shines on the Green Stream’s waters,

Frost covers the Long Plank Bridge.

Here we are. Knock quickly.

(Knocking. A servant boy enters.)

SERVANT: Just closed the back gate, now I must open the front; receiving officials and guests, I’m like a post-station clerk. Who’s knocking?

OLD MAN: Open up quickly.

(Servant opens the door, startled.)

SERVANT: Oh! Torches and lanterns, sedan chairs and horses and bearers—Master Yang has come to flaunt his official might!

GENTLEMAN: Bah! Quickly call Mistress Zhen out.

SERVANT: (loudly) Mother, come out! Master Yang is at the door!

(A young woman enters hastily.)

YOUNG WOMAN: Has Your Excellency just returned from a feast?

GENTLEMAN: I was just now at Marshal Ma’s residence, and came specially to announce good news.

YOUNG WOMAN: What good news?

GENTLEMAN: An important official is coming to marry your daughter. (Points.)

【THE FISHERMAN’S PRIDE】

See the bridal sedan and the attendants urging at the gate!

See these three hundred taels of silver, and a set of embroidered clothes!

YOUNG WOMAN: (startled) Which family is coming to take her? Why wasn’t I told earlier?

GENTLEMAN: Look at the lanterns—the characters paired in large letters: “Inner Hall of the Central Secretariat.”

YOUNG WOMAN: Is the Grand Secretariat himself marrying?

GENTLEMAN: No. Governor Tian of the Grain Transport, his fellow-townsman and close relative, is sending a beauty to hold his jade cup.

YOUNG WOMAN: The Tian family’s proposal was already refused. Why this bullying again?

YOUNG MAN: (handing over the silver) Are you Fragrant Princess? Please accept the betrothal gifts.

YOUNG WOMAN: Let me go inside and discuss it.

OLD MAN: The Prime Minister’s household wants someone—do we wait for your discussion? Take the silver quickly and come out to the sedan.

GENTLEMAN: How dare she not go? You wait outside. I’ll take the silver in and urge her to dress.

(Gentleman takes the silver, servant takes the clothes, and they enter the house with the young woman. Old man and young man exit briefly.)

(Young woman, gentleman, and servant ascend the tower.)

GENTLEMAN: (calling) Is Fragrant Princess asleep?

(PRINCESS enters.)

PRINCESS: What urgent matter causes such uproar?

YOUNG WOMAN: Don’t you know yet?

PRINCESS: (seeing the gentleman) I suppose Master Yang has come to hear a song.

YOUNG WOMAN: Songs, indeed!

【SILVER LAMP】

Urgently they come to deliver betrothal gifts,

Fiercely they force a singing girl to submit!

Face to face, there’s no escape for the moment,

By name they name her—who else can take the blame?

PRINCESS: (startled) It frightens me to death! Who is this cursed one again?

YOUNG WOMAN: Still Tian Yang. Now he borrows the Prime Minister’s power to force you into marriage. It’s pitiful—a brothel girl’s fate is thin, in a moment scattered like willow catkins in the wind.

(To the gentleman) Master Yang, you have always favored us mother and child. Why do you strike such a cruel blow?

GENTLEMAN: It’s none of my doing. Ma Yaocao learned you had refused Tian Yang and flew into a rage. He sent a gang of rough servants to seize you by force. Fearing you might suffer, I came specially to protect you.

YOUNG WOMAN: Many thanks for that. I beg you, sir, to save us to the end.

GENTLEMAN: As I see it, three hundred taels of silver is no loss. For Fragrant Princess to marry a Grain Transport Governor is no disgrace. What power have you to resist the strength of two great houses?

YOUNG WOMAN: (pondering) What you say is reasonable. Looking at this situation, I cannot defy them. Child, pack up quickly and come downstairs!

PRINCESS: (angrily) What words are these, Mother! Master Yang was the matchmaker, you presided over the vows, and I was married to Master Hou. All the guests saw it. I still keep the token of our pledge. (Hurriedly takes out a fan from inside) This poem of betrothal—Master Yang himself read it. Can he have forgotten?

【BROCADE SPREAD ON THE GROUND】

Lifting the tray level with my brows,

He is my lifelong support.

How can our oath be changed?

On the palace silk fan the poem is inscribed—

Ten thousand kinds of love,

And a night as husband and wife.

GENTLEMAN: Master Hou fled from trouble, and no one knows where he is. Suppose he doesn’t return for three years—will you wait for him?

PRINCESS: I’ll wait for him three years! I’ll wait for him ten years! I’ll wait for him a hundred years! I will not marry Tian Yang.

GENTLEMAN: Ah! Such a fierce temper! Just like when you tore off your ornaments and cursed Ruan Yuanhai.

PRINCESS: Exactly! Ruan and Tian are both of the Wei faction. I refused Ruan’s dowry—should I follow Tian Yang instead?

(Voice inside): It’s late! Hurry to the sedan—we must still reach the boat!

YOUNG WOMAN: (urging) Foolish girl! Married into the Tian mansion, you’ll lack for nothing in food and clothing.

PRINCESS: Bah! I have sworn to keep my chastity. Do I care about warmth and plenty? I will endure cold and hunger, but I will never leave this Green Kingfisher Tower.

YOUNG WOMAN: Things have come to this—I cannot care for her anymore. (Calls) Master Yang, put down the betrothal gifts. Let us both help her comb her hair and dress.

(Young woman combs her hair; gentleman helps her dress. Princess beats wildly about her with the fan.)

GENTLEMAN: Ferocious! A poem-fan like a defensive sword!

YOUNG WOMAN: Hastily dressed—carry her downstairs.

(Gentleman tries to lift her. Princess weeps.)

PRINCESS: I will die rather than leave this tower!

(She falls to the floor, strikes her head, and lies unconscious.)

YOUNG WOMAN: (alarmed) Oh! My child, wake up! She has smashed her flower-like face to pieces!

GENTLEMAN: (pointing at the fan) Look—blood spattered everywhere, even this poem-fan is ruined. (Picks up the fan and gives it to the servant.)

YOUNG WOMAN: (calling) Boy, help Fragrant Princess up and take her to the bedroom to rest.

(Servant helps PRINCESS offstage.)

(Voice from inside): It’s already the third watch! You’ve taken the silver and still haven’t sent her out! We’re coming up to seize her!

GENTLEMAN: (to those below) Steward, wait a little. The mother and daughter cannot bear to part—they are truly pitiable.

YOUNG WOMAN: (distressed) My child is hurt, and outside they keep calling for her. What shall we do?

GENTLEMAN: You know the Prime Minister’s power. Offend him this time, and you and your child will not keep your lives.

YOUNG WOMAN: (frightened) I beg Master Yang to save us!

GENTLEMAN: There’s no other way. Let’s find an expedient.

YOUNG WOMAN: What expedient?

GENTLEMAN: For a courtesan to marry respectably is a good thing, and marrying into the Tian mansion means no lack of food and clothing. Since Fragrant Princess has no such fortune, why don’t you go in her stead?

YOUNG WOMAN: (alarmed) That’s absolutely impossible. How could I bear to part with her so suddenly?

GENTLEMAN: (angrily) Tomorrow at dawn they’ll come to seize her. Then see if you bear it or not!

YOUNG WOMAN: (dazed) Very well! Let Fragrant Princess guard the tower—I’ll go in her place. (Thinks) No, no—someone might recognize me.

GENTLEMAN: I’ll say you are Fragrant Princess. Who can tell the difference?

YOUNG WOMAN: If so, I must dress as a bride again. (Dresses hastily. Calls inside) Fragrant Princess, my child, rest well. I’m going for you. (Another instruction) Keep the three hundred taels safe—don’t spend them.

(Gentleman helps the young woman downstairs.)

【POCKMARKED WOMAN】

(YOUNG WOMAN)

Downstairs, downstairs, in the third watch of night,

Red lanterns light the road with splendor bright.

Out the door, out the door, the cold wind blows—

Who knows if I’ll return, who knows?

(Old man and young man enter with lanterns and sedan chair.)

OLD MAN & YOUNG MAN: Good, good! The bride has come out. Please get into the sedan.

YOUNG WOMAN: (bidding farewell to the gentleman) I take my leave of Master Yang.

GENTLEMAN: Take care on your journey. We shall meet again.

YOUNG WOMAN: Sir, please stay tonight at the house and look after my child.

GENTLEMAN: Naturally.

(Young woman gets into the sedan.)

Henceforth a stranger’s eyes will see this former lover;

Once through the noble gate, how hard to come out again!

(Moving)

Leaving behind the songs and flutes,

Whom shall I attend tonight?

(All exit.)

GENTLEMAN: (laughing) Zhen Li goes to a respectable marriage; Fragrant Princess guards her chastity. This washes away Brother Ruan’s grievance and satisfies Marshal Ma’s authority! Using one plum to take the place of a peach—one move gains four benefits. An excellent scheme! (Sighs) But the parting of mother and child is sad, after all.

Hastily through the night she goes, a beauty to replace—

A single song now like the mournful Yi River’s strain.

Within Swallow Tower lies the invalid in her bed,

The lamp dim, the quilt cold—who knows her secret pain?