Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examination Ch. 131

Chapter 131

After Gao Su left, Cui Xie opened the PDF in his mind and transcribed the script of the play, pondering how to create special effects.

This Lantern Festival play was scheduled for the evening banquet—the final act of the script contained lines about ‘colorful lights twining around Mount Ao, and with candles on silver platforms painting a luminous scene’ and ‘ten thousand lanterns lighting up all around’. By the time the scene was performed, it would indeed be the moment to light up the mountain and the candles. In these times, without incandescent lamps, the glow of candlelight inherently provided a photo filter effect, making any roughness in the background setup inconsequential in the long run.

Coincidentally, the 《Three Kingdoms》illustrated novel printing had recently reached chapter ninety-one, ‘The Han Prime Minister’s Return from Performing Rites at the Hu River’ and 

‘The Marquis of Wu Submits a Memorial For the Campaign Against the Central Plains’. The single-person illustrations only required depictions of Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang, characters he had previously drawn. He roughly sketched a draft and delegated the final tracing and coloring to Cui Qi and the bookshop artisans, only needing to oversee the progress and provide color guidance as needed, sparing him considerable effort.

He could then dedicate the remaining time to the play.

Cui Xie picked up a small knife and carefully sharpened a doze pencils, contemplating the set design while doing so—

The protagonist, the ‘The Jade Void’s Teacher and Minister, the Dark Heavenly Emperor’ claimed to have been born in the northern land of Ren and Gui, where auspicious snow covered the country at his arrival¹. His dwelling could thus be decorated as a snow scene. The ‘God of the Nine Heavens’ who delivered messages was described as ‘riding a crane’, so Cui Xie decided to craft a fake crane with a fake perch with a hidden platform for the messenger to stand on, allowing the hem of the robe to hang freely while giving the illusion of flying on the crane. In one scene, the messenger goes to invite the God of Culture and Literature, which could be staged with a silk gauze screen at the front, quickly changing the backdrop to a painted scene of a palace.

In the next act, it transitions to the God of the Nine Heavens inviting the The Great Emperors of the Five Spirit Manifestations and the Five Sacred Mountain Gods to descend to the mortal realm and enjoy the lanterns. This scene, with its netherworld theme, involved ghost officials but could not be made too gloomy to avoid displeasing the Emperor. Instead, Cui Xie decided on a celestial background, with stars shining through a black curtain, and in front, setting up lavish palace furnishings as rich and luxurious as the Imperial Palace of the Emperor on Earth.

In the final scene, when the deities descend to the mortal realm, they should use a few blowers to scatter silk flowers and gold foil from above, creating an ethereal effect that befits the arrival of the divine….

This play was incredibly straightforward, merely depicting the Jade Void Immortal Emperor inviting various gods to descend and celebrate the Lantern Festival with the Ming Emperor. Logically, there should not be any difficult parts to handle. However, Cui Xie was quite unfamiliar with the technical capabilities of the Imperial palace’s staff. What if he blindly proceeded and could not achieve the desired effect? Or what if the result was too ordinary, failing to impress the Emperor?

The more Cui Xie thought about it, the more insurmountable the difficulties seemed, like a towering mountain. It was not something he could solve alone, and his anxiety made it hard for him to sit still, yet a hint of a smile tugging involuntarily at the corners of his mouth—

While he was unfamiliar with the inner workings of the Imperial palace, Commander Bai was not someone he could easily find. However, Colonel Xie frequently entered the palace and, especially during festivals, would be close to the Emperor. He must be very familiar with palace operas and the performance techniques commonly used there!

How could he not seek advice from such a valuable source?

Cui Xie narrowed his eyes and smiled, twirling the pencil in his fingers before it settled between his index and middle fingers. With a flick of his wrist, he began sketching the background.

The next morning, light snow began to fall early, covering the ground by the time his classes ended. The weather was gloomy and was not ideal for going out. Yet Cui Xie paid no heed to the weather. Having informed his family in the morning that he intended to go out and enjoy the snow to relax, he donned a sheepskin cloak after school and leisurely rode his white horse to the Xie Residence.

His visit in such inclement weather surprised even the gatekeeper at the Xie Residence, who asked, “Did Young Master Cui not just visit a few days ago? Why come again to see our da-ren in this weather?”

Young Master Cui removed his hood, flashed a charming smile, and asked warmly, “I have a difficult matter to seek Xie-xiong’s help with. Don’t know if he is at home?”

Luckily, in the heavy snow, one couldn’t clearly see his expression from a distance; otherwise, the gatekeeper might not have dared to let him in.

There was no training scheduled today, and Xie Ying had no tasks requiring him to travel or handle cases, so he was naturally at home. Seeing Cui Xie visit again so soon and braving the wind and snow, Xie Ying couldn’t help but feel concerned. He quickly dragged him into the hall, dismissed the servants, and asked: “Didn’t your family all go back home? Is there something you need from me?”

Cui Xie, knowing no one could see, first rolled his eyes towards the direction of the Imperial Palace and complained, “I used to come whenever I had time, but now wanting to see you feels like I need to sneak around. I have to find an excuse just to visit.”

Even if he missed him, Xie Ying thought that Cui Xie should not have ventured out on a day like this. What if the horse slipped on the snowy ground? Xie Ying had just warned him last time to take care of his health…

Fortunately, on this snowy day, the windows were not only closed but also curtained, making it impossible to see inside from the outside. Xie Ying reached out and pulled Cui Xie into his embrace, warming him slowly despite the coldness of Cui Xie’s cloak.

Cui Xie’s cloak and hat had been covered in snow and had already been taken away to be dried by the Xie family servants. The cotton-padded clothes inside had also absorbed and were soaked with cold air, sticking to his body like ice. Concerned about Xie Ying getting cold, Cui Xie quickly pushed him away, “Your room is quite warm. I will warm up in a bit, no need to use your body. After all, I am just a scholar, but you are someone the Emperor relies on. Be careful not to catch a chill.”

Xie Ying touched Cui Xie’s cold neck and let out a derisive snort, “If the chill from your body could freeze me to death, how much cold have you endured outside?”

He simply led Cui Xie to his own warm chamber, tossed him onto the thickly padded bed, and, sitting at the edge of the kang bed, pulled off Cui Xie shoes and pushed him into the depths of the bedding.

Lying on the scorching, heated bed, warmth seeped into joints between Cui Xie’s bones, making him feel utterly relaxed. He grasped Xie Ying’s hand and pressed it to his own chest, almost reluctant to sit up.

Xie Ying was not in a hurry to make him get up. He bent one leg, sitting on the bed, propped one hand against Cui Xie’s neck, and looked down at him, asking, “Tell me what is the matter first. You should head home early in this weather. I’ve already instructed someone to prepare dinner.”

Cui Xie rolled over and hugged Xie Ying’s arm, dragging him down so that he was half-leaning and unsteady on the bed, their faces almost touching. He lifted his head and stole a quick kiss before saying, “I wanted to ask you, Xie-xiong, about the usual practices in Imperial palace performances. Do they often include setting up landscapes of mountains and rivers, making cranes, or cloud platforms?”

The two were so close that they could feel each other’s breath, the mingling scent of gardenias indistinguishable from one another. Xie Ying grasped Cui Xie’s hand, which was pressed against his own chest, and pinned it to the bed, rubbing his cheek against Cui Xie’s neck before gently kissing Cui Xie his neck to his lips. As he felt their body temperatures rise, Xie Ying almost lost control but managed to release Cui Xie’s hand and sit up again.

Just as Cui Xie was warming up, Xie Ying pulled away, leaving Cui Xie frustrated. He was so frustrated that he grabbed Xie Ying’s hand and began licking and biting from the fingertips to the wrist, attempting to use his modern techniques to conquer him.

Unexpectedly, Xie Ying endured it, pinched Cui Xie’s thigh, and said, “Don’t mess around.” He then addressed the main issue: “The Imperial palace’s setups are more luxurious than those outside, but they mainly consist of arranging tables and chairs, with carriages and the like, painted on cloth screens. As for cloud carriages, I’ve never heard of them. Cranes on stage… well, if we put cranes on stage, the noise from the gongs and drums might frighten them, right?”

Cui Xie traced a circle on Xie Ying’s palm with his tongue, feeling satisfied when he sensed Xie Ying’s arm stiffen. He then raised his head and said, “They are not real cranes. It is like making lanterns for the Lantern Festival—using bamboo to create a frame, pasting the lattice with paper, and having someone inside walk with it, making it look as though they are riding a crane.”

Xie Ying chuckled, “If that is the case, then it is not difficult. If the Imperial palace can create the magnificent lantern displays for the Lantern Festival, this should be simple. Your description gives me a clear picture, and the craftsmen will surely manage it. What else? How about cloud carriages, are they also made the same way?”

Cui Xie played with Xie Ying’s calloused fingers, squinting as he replied, “The cloud carriages are similar. They’re made shorter, wrapped in fluffy cotton, with wheels on the bottom frame to allow movement. It needs to look like the characters traveling on clouds to give an immortal and celestial feel, right? The backdrop should have large painted curtains with artificial mountains and trees…”

Originally, he wanted to ask Gao taijian to make the artificial mountains from plaster, but the plaster was too heavy and difficult to move. So, he inquired, “Wrapping silk around wooden frames for trees and rocks looks too fake and unattractive. Is there something lightweight, cheap, and easy to cover with a layer with something that solidifies quickly?”

He wished for something like plastic foam or silicone to create a shell, but he doubted such materials existed in the Ming Dynasty. If necessary, he would resort to making paper lanterns. To his surprise, Xie Ying readily and happily replied, “There is such a thing… what you are referring to, is it not just wax?”

Cui Xie, excited, used his waist strength to sit up from the thick bedding: “Wax? Not the kind used for waxing carriages, right?”

Seeing his surprised expression, Xie Ying could not help but chuckle, “Have you never looked at candle wax? When the wax drips down, it swirls and hardens. What is so surprising about that?”

How could someone who seemed to know everything not think of something so common?

Xie Ying did not think Cui Xie was ignorant; he just felt that the other had momentarily gotten stuck in a mental rut, unable to think of the obvious. But this expression of sudden realization after being reminded was very endearing, making Xie Ying want to capture the moment in a drawing—it was much more adorable than the dignified and serious image Cui Xie usually portrayed.

Unable to resist, Xie Ying pinched Cui Xie’s cheek. Seeing Cui Xie’s continued bewilderment, he asked with a smile, “What, still can’t figure it out?”

Cui Xie shook his head and suddenly bit Xie Ying’s finger as it reached his lips, mumbling, “I never thought about what kind of wax it was. I always assumed it was wax derived from Chinese white wax bugs. Now that you mention it, wax is eight silver coins per jin, while white wax is three taels and four coins per jin. They definitely cannot be the same thing…”

Hearing him distinguish materials by their price, Xie Ying found him even more amusing and could not help but laugh. As they laughed, they suddenly heard footsteps approaching from outside. Xie Ying quickly pushed Cui Xie and gave him a look.

Reluctantly, Cui Xie let go of Xie Ying’s finger, tidied his clothes, and moved to sit by the edge of the heated bed. Xie Ying also sat on the other side of the table, still half-cross-legged on the bed. Both were wearing thick cotton clothing, so lying down for a while had not wrinkled their clothes. Their hair was covered with hair nets, so there was no worry about it getting messy.

When the servants came in, they saw the two sitting across from each other with tea cups in hand, discussing stagecraft, looking like a pair of proper and ordinary friends.

The steward who entered did not even look up at them, merely asking Xie Ying where to place the hotpot.

Xie Ying pointed to the kang table and said, “Just set it here. Prepare plenty of lamb, donkey meat, and other warming foods, and bring some of the stored greens from the cellar. As for the wine, only bring the mild sweet wine. Eating hotpot is best enjoyed when you do it yourself. Just leave the ingredients; no need to stay.”

In such cold weather, Cui Xie would need to ride his horse back home and should not drink too much. Of course, hotpot was perfect for warming up.

The lamb was raised on the Xie family estate, freshly slaughtered and sliced thin, served along with Baoding donkey meat, was quickly blanched in boiling broth and dipped in sesame paste. This warmed their bodies up to the point that they no longer needed to wear their cotton-padded robes.

Concerned that Cui Xie might sweat through his clothes and catch a chill on the way home, Xie Ying had him take off his thick garments and gave him his own lighter jacket to wear. They sat across from each other at the kang table, surrounded by the aroma of meat and steaming broth, discussing how to use Ming Dynasty technology to create modern stage effects.

This Lantern Festival play was simple, consisting mainly of a few lines about celebrating the festival and wishing the Emperor longevity. Cui Xie had studied it enough for one night, memorized it and explained the plot and his ideas to Xie Ying from beginning to the end.

The two, one a liberal arts student and an athlete, raised their cups and discussed with the seriousness of  scientific researchers, on how to modify blacksmith bellows to scatter flowers, gold confetti, and feathers disguised as snowflakes from the second floor of the stage. For lighting effects, they could set up lamps in the second floor patio, using colored paper lanterns to change the light’s hue, and use brass or silver-plated reflectors to direct the light, experimenting with the effects during rehearsals.

If only they could produce steel wires instead of just iron wires, Cui Xie thought, then the Chenghua Emperor could witness the magic of wirework of modern TV dramas.

Slightly regretful, he shook his head, reviewed the play from start to finish, and asked Xie Ying, “If the Imperial Entertainment Bureau were to stage it themselves, would they have anything more impressive than our methods?”

Xie Ying, dipping a piece of lamb with his chopsticks, thought for a moment and said, “They might set off fireworks when the immortals appear. In summer, they could do water puppetry, but there is nothing particularly new.”

Cui Xie stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, “What if we made an ice stage, having the actors perform while ice skating? With the actors skating and performing at the same time, their movements and gaits would look much more like those of celestial beings.”

Xie Ying found Cui Xie’s plan refreshingly innovative. The Imperial Entertainment Bureau had not staged such a lively performance in years, and the Drum and Bell department had the Emperor’s favorite performer, A Chou. Having him perform would surely please the Emperor greatly.

He picked up a perfectly cooked slice of meat and placed it in Cui Xie’s bowl, smiling as he said, “You have put a lot of thought into this. Eat more to replenish and nourish your mind. A few more bites won’t hurt, and later we can have someone fetch some hawthorn cakes to aid in digestion.”

Lamb is known for replenishing the kidneys, not necessarily the brain.

All that kidney replenishment wasn’t being put to use, so what was the point!

Cui Xie bit down on Xie Ying’s chopsticks, using his tongue to wrap around the meat and pull it into his mouth. He licked the chopsticks and complained, “I will be seventeen after the New Year. My aunt says at this age I should be getting married and starting a family. Why do you still treat me like a child?”

Xie Ying’s grip on the chopsticks loosened for a moment before he regained his composure and smiled faintly, “At this age, it is indeed time to settle such important matters. Next year… no, after this month, you will be an adult…does your family have any plans? Perhaps they intend to marry you to one of your cousins?”

Cui Xie laughed, “Xie-xiong is joking. There are no cousins for me to marry. My aunt did say she would look out for any suitable noble ladies…”

Xie Ying nodded, smiling as he advised, “Your maternal family treats you well. It is good to have such relatives to support you and it is much better than managing everything on your own.”

Xie Ying’s demeanor was one of restrained forbearance, magnanimity and generosity, as if he truly didn’t mind. This made Cui Xie dissatisfied. He moved around the table, crawled to Xie Ying’s side, and whispered fiercely, “But I want someone from a family of officials, someone who is handsome, gentle, considerate, understanding, and generous…”

Xie Ying listened to his words, nodding occasionally, agreeing that Cui Xie deserved such a virtuous wife. He even considered asking which family’s daughter Cui Xie had in mind. If family status wasn’t an issue, he knew several suitable noble families.

As Xie Ying was lost in thought, Cui Xie suddenly pounced on him, lightly biting his chin and whispering in his ear, “…and I like Colonel Xie, who secretly helps me.”

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Footnotes:

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TN: Have a good rest of your week everyone and enjoy the chapter!

Happy Thanksgiving Break to those in the U.S. 🙂 Have a great time with your loved ones ❤

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