Chapter 74: Moral Integrity

Pang Yu put on a thoughtful expression.

"It's not the 'tong' from bamboo with the right side missing — that's a 'si' character; the 'lü' character without its right side is a 'ma' character..." Pang Yu pretended to trace the characters on his palm as he thought aloud, following the script. "The four characters are Sima Xiangru."

Below the stage, Ruan Dacheng watched with rapt attention, as if he too had been drawn into the drama. He roared in a lowered voice, "Ruan Jiwen, what kind of expression is that? You have to see yourself as a lantern-bearer. The sheng role is puzzling over the characters — your look should be a bit curious, and also a bit worried, because if the sheng role guesses right, you'll have to pay up."

Pang Yu finished his pretense of deciphering the characters and turned to the lantern-bearer. "Are these four characters not Sima Xiangru?"

The whole group of extras laughed together on cue. The lantern-bearer said, "Yes, yes, they are. What a clever young gentleman — you're sure to place first in this year's exams. Take this string of coins."

Ruan Dacheng paced back and forth below the stage. "Zhang Sanyong, your laugh is too stiff. Don't open your mouth so wide — your whole face needs to move. Laugh the way you normally laugh. The Tu family's wife... Tu family's wife, what are you doing? Why are you standing so far forward? Move back a bit. I'm telling you, no ad-libbing extra scenes."

Under Ruan Dacheng's animated direction, Spring Lantern Riddles proceeded smoothly. After Pang Yu guessed correctly, Wei Yingniang, disguised as a man, also solved one riddle. In the end, one riddle remained, for the two of them to guess together.

The dan role playing Wei Yingniang was rather plain in appearance, but her eyes were quite alluring — a pair of glistening, peach-blossom eyes. Women of the entertainment world were indeed far bolder than ordinary folk; seeing Pang Yu's handsome features, she kept sizing him up with her gaze.

By the time the temple attendant had the two of them drink wine together, the dan role was practically pressing herself against Pang Yu.

Ruan Dacheng's expression showed displeasure. "Dan role, get ready. Stop staring at him like that. Flute in the music troupe, begin. Dan role, pay attention — you need to curl your tongue here. Yes, with a bit of a whistling tone. Not curled enough. How many times have I taught you this... Are you trying to anger me to death?"

Ruan Dacheng cursed as he watched, spitting quite a bit of saliva onto his beard. When it came time for Pang Yu to begin his vocal part, everyone had to stop again. Ruan Dacheng mounted the stage himself to demonstrate the singing technique for Pang Yu.

In the late Ming, Southern Tunes flourished for a time. Many scholar-officials kept private opera troupes at home; in Suzhou alone, there were several thousand Kunqu performers. It was also fashionable for scholar-officials to take the stage themselves as amateur performers. The literati looked down on professional actors, yet considered it an elegant refinement when pursued as a personal hobby. Thus neither Ruan Dacheng nor Pan Yinglou minded appearing on stage to perform alongside the actors.

Ruan Dacheng led Pang Yu in song: "Come tomorrow's dawn, parting through mist and waves, at evening mooring alongside neighboring boats, take care to search at leisure."

After leading him through it once, he had Pang Yu sing it alone three more times. Each rendition was better than the last. Ruan Dacheng nodded along with the rhythm, mouth open. "The Yangguan Three Refrains ends here. Young Pang Xiaoyou, you brought it to a fitting close. Listen for the sanxian to stop... Good, good. Everyone, take a rest."

Drenched in sweat, Ruan Dacheng sank back into his armchair. Pang Yu was only slightly tired; since it was his first time as the male lead, his mental spirit was, if anything, somewhat exhilarated.

The opera troupe and extras had been standing for half the day. Most of them had little real interest in opera and were merely there to amuse the master. Hearing Ruan Dacheng call for a break, they all felt as if granted a great reprieve and scattered around to drink water and rest.

Ruan Dacheng took a square handkerchief handed to him by a servant, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said to Pang Yu with a beaming smile, "Young Pang Xiaoyou, with just a little more training in vocal technique, you would far surpass many a sheng role. I never imagined — never imagined you would have such natural talent."

"It is all thanks to Ruan Xiansheng's excellent teaching. Even a person of ordinary aptitude could surpass the average under your guidance."

"Young Pang Xiaoyou is too modest. What a pity. I have only just found a kindred spirit here in Tongcheng, and now we shall be a thousand li apart."

"Ruan Xiansheng is also leaving Tongcheng?"

Ruan Dacheng nodded. "I, too, am preparing to go to Nanjing."

Pang Yu's face showed regret, but the departure of these gentry was not necessarily a bad thing for him. Previously, the power of the Tongcheng gentry had been too overwhelming; every trade with even a slightly higher profit margin in the city and countryside had been monopolized by them. Even the various offices of the county yamen could only scrape minor profits, let alone the Fast Squad. Now that they were leaving, more opportunities were left behind.

"Then this humble one may never have the good fortune to finish performing this Spring Lantern Riddles. In truth, I would much rather watch a performance by the opera troupe Ruan Xiansheng has trained — it would surely be far better than this junior's performance."

Ruan Dacheng lifted his teacup and took a light sip, still mindful of his image. "Young Pang Xiaoyou must not sell yourself short. I have seen many a sheng role; not a few sing better than you, but not many act more fittingly. I will not be gone from Tongcheng forever; there will always be a chance for us to meet again."

After setting down his cup, Ruan Dacheng continued, still not fully satisfied. "To play this Yuwen Yan well, one must not only see the twists and clever turns, but also feel his grievance. Wrongfully accused by others without cause, Yuwen Yan could not defend himself no matter what he said. A son of an aristocratic family thrown into a dark prison, yet in the end he still placed first as Zhuangyuan. What is precious is that composure and unyielding resilience."

Pang Yu hurriedly voiced agreement, but it sounded as though Ruan Dacheng was using Yuwen Yan to exonerate himself.

Sure enough, Ruan Dacheng went on. "There are always some who spread rumors everywhere, claiming that the deaths of Zuo Guangdou and Wei Dazhong back then were connected to me. At that time, I had already resigned from office and returned home — a mere commoner living in retirement. What virtue or ability did I possess to control Wei Yan from afar? Take this spring, when word of the Roving Bandits spread: I advised the Tongcheng and Huaining County Magistrates to request troops to garrison as a rear guard, and for that I was cursed and maligned everywhere. I thought to myself, the pure remain pure of their own accord, so I let them be."

Before Pang Yu could even respond, Ruan Dacheng could not help but add, "Even more absurd are those who fabricate lies, saying I wrote, 'Without a son, one's body is light; with an official post, all things are sufficient.' If I were so eager to hold office, when Wei Yan clearly offered me an official post, why would I have resigned and returned home? It is all because of the moral integrity in my very bones — I would rather cultivate my reputation in reclusion than fawn upon the powerful. How could I ever say such a thing as 'with an official post, all things are sufficient'? Utterly ridiculous! Those who concoct these slanders do not misunderstand my character — they are simply petty-minded and deliberately seek to wrong me."

Ruan Dacheng grew agitated, panting heavily. He lifted his teacup and gulped down a mouthful, splashing quite a few droplets onto his beard where they hung suspended.

"Life is short and bitter. Why should Ruan Xiansheng waste precious time quibbling with such petty men?"

"Young Pang Xiaoyou speaks exactly to my heart." Ruan Dacheng leaned in closer. "Personal gains and losses, I have long faced with equanimity. The only thing that ever troubles me is that our Emperor faces troubles within and foreign invasion without. Ruan has a belly full of stratagems, yet can do nothing to relieve the worries of our sage Son of Heaven."

Pang Yu did not fully grasp all of this, but he gathered roughly that the deaths of Zuo Guangdou and the others back then were, to some degree, connected to Ruan Dacheng — yet without conclusive evidence. Ruan Dacheng himself was also exceedingly talented in letters, so while some in Shi Lin were determined to distance themselves from him, others were still willing to associate with him.

In the time Pang Yu had been in Tongcheng, he had not heard much about the Donglin Party, but the name of Zuo Guangdou, one of the Six Gentlemen of the Eastern Forest, rang like thunder in his ears. Right there, north of the city, stood Zuo Guangdou's ancestral hall, called Zuo Gong Temple. A man who, in death, could receive the incense offerings of the common people — one could imagine how high his status was in Tongcheng.

If such a man had indeed been harmed by Ruan Dacheng, then surely no one would dare associate with Ruan Dacheng anymore, and the common people would also cry out against him wherever he went. Judging by the current situation, there was probably no solid evidence.

Having heard all this, Pang Yu now understood whom Ruan Dacheng had been cursing in the study. In any case, it was either the Donglin Party or the Restoration Society.

Ruan Dacheng suddenly said, "I have heard that the county yamen has recently been short of horses. I have had my household servants bring five rideable ones from Huaining. I hope they may be of some small use to Young Pang Xiaoyou."

Pang Yu quickly cupped his hands in salute. "Ruan Xiansheng truly provides charcoal in the snow. I offer my thanks in advance."

"A man whose hands cannot pacify the barbarians should let down his hair and return to the rivers and lakes." Ruan Dacheng sighed and continued, "I am already far away among the rivers and lakes, yet the northern barbarians still hold Liaodong, and now there are also the Roving Bandits and Giant Bandits — swarms of rats and crows clamoring across the Central Plains. My heart is willing but my strength is feeble; I can only do these trifling things. The court needs bold men like Young Pang Xiaoyou. I hope that one day, I may stand shoulder to shoulder with heroes such as you, to sweep away the foul miasma and cleanse the realm."

Pang Yu studied the impassioned Ruan Dacheng with curiosity. He did not entirely believe Ruan Dacheng's self-praise, but to say that Ruan Dacheng was nothing but a schemer without a shred of patriotic heart — that did not quite seem right either.

At least from what he saw now, Ruan Dacheng was generous and magnanimous, and could also be considered zealous for public good. No wonder so many people, disregarding the label of Eunuch Faction on his head, were still willing to associate with him.

Ruan Dacheng was filled with heroic fervor, his expression utterly solemn, still immersed in the gallantry of the moment just past.

Suddenly, from behind came a burst of clear, lilting, cheerful female singing.

"Sister on the frame swings to and fro, lover on the ground pulls the silk thread so. Sister kicks her feet up high and wide, waiting for lover's hands to draw near her side, to tug her soul flying up to the sky." (Note 1)

The solemn atmosphere was instantly shattered. Ruan Dacheng turned his head in displeasure. It was that same dan role from before, sitting on a swing, swaying and singing.

Seeing that Pang Yu was also watching, the woman cast a rippling glance his way. Paired with the lyrics of the mountain song she had just sung, it was almost a brazen attempt to seduce him. Pang Yu quickly lowered his head.

Ruan Dacheng did not rebuke the dan role, however. He turned back and said to Pang Yu in a low voice, "This dan role sings mountain-song tunes better than Southern Tunes, but ultimately it is not fit for refined occasions. If Young Pang Xiaoyou can come to Nanjing, you must stay at my place for some time. Although I have not yet arrived in Nanjing, I have already sent someone to secure a dan role there named Zhu Yinxian. When you hear her whistling tone then, only then will you know something that seems heaven-made."

"Then I shall certainly impose upon you when the time comes."

As Pang Yu finished speaking, the dan role began singing another tune behind them. He listened for a moment, then suddenly stopped and asked Ruan Dacheng, "Does Ruan Xiansheng know what tune she is singing?"

"A Tea-Picking Tune from places like Huangmei County. It is widely sung around Anqing."

Pang Yu slapped the tabletop, startling Ruan Dacheng. "Ruan Xiansheng, a great talent in opera, need not limit yourself only to Southern Tunes. Would you be willing to join this humble one in creating a new opera form from scratch?"

Ruan Dacheng froze for a moment, then asked in astonishment, "What opera form? Just the two of us?"

"We shall adapt it from this very Tea-Picking Tune. Just now, a flash of inspiration struck me, and I have already conceived a play. It is called Female Prince Consort."

"A female prince consort? That already sounds intriguing. Young Pang Xiaoyou, tell me about it at once!"

Note 1: This passage is a popular song from Tongcheng in the late Ming period, originating from Tongcheng itself, and collected in Feng Menglong's Mountain Songs.