43 The Test
After a night of fussing over the little drama queen, Yuan Ge is too exhausted to speak. He collapses on the sofa and starts to browse through his film collection - he must now begin his daily routine of shot-by-shot film analysis or he would not be able to finish it.
When Rong Qiuchen finishes styling his hair and walks into the living room, he is naturally scared out of his wits again when he sees the moving images flashing on the television screen.
Yuan Ge holds his hands to his forehead, knowing that if he doesn't pacify this paranoid little drama queen, he won't be able to watch the film in peace tonight. He has to let him touch the screen himself and explain to him the principles of television imaging, the production of sound and the basics of film-making. After a while, the boy finally calms down and sits down on the sofa to watch the film with him.
It didn't take long for Rong Qiuchen to develop a keen interest in television. His big, soulful eyes are glued to the actors' performances on the screen, and he keeps asking Yuan Ge all sorts of questions.
Yuan Ge says in resignation, "I say, little buddy, your acting is so good that even I, a director, can't fault it. I admit that your performance as a servant boy who transmigrated from the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty is flawless! Why don't you stop acting now and let us both relax? I declare your porcelain bumping scheme a resounding success, and I will get you a part in my film 'Qingqing' tomorrow, OK?"
"Childe Yuan, you're making fun of me. I used to be an actor, and then I joined the House of Rong as a servant boy. What I'm telling you is the truth. If you don't believe me, please allow me to convince you with a shoulder massage and a back rub."
"Will you also make me tea, wash my feet and warm my bed?"
"... …"
"That's enough, buddy. Your young mind is full of remnants of feudal thinking! It seems that too much cosplay can easily lead to a distorted value system and outlook on life."
They are watching the Spiegel brothers' sci-fi thriller Predestination on TV. Yuan Ge thought to himself that this modernist work of complex editing with a difficult plot is really not suitable for this little lunatic to learn the basics of cinema. On a whim, he switches to the TV channel and puts on an episode of Cixi and Her Old Lover, which has stunned the boy on the spot and made him stare more intently at the screen.
"How's that? It's a Qing Dynasty drama. Does it look familiar? Is the acting realistic?" Yuan Ge looks at Rong Qiuchen's indescribably complex expression and can't resist teasing him.
"No, not at all! Who would dare to speak so presumptuously about the Empress Dowager? This is a very serious crime that will not only get one killed, but will implicate his entire family! What is shown in this box is not in the least bit true. How could it be so absurd!"
The boy's shock doesn't seem to be fake, as if he knows a lot of history that he cannot share with others. He also seems genuinely worried that Yuan Ge would get into trouble and be killed for discussing court politics.
Yuan Ge can't help but laugh out loud and says, "I repeat, the Qing Dynasty is long over! These people have been buried in the ground for over a hundred years. We can talk to a certain extent about what happened in past dynasties, whether parodically or teasingly, without fear of having our heads chopped off or our families exterminated. Especially when it comes to movies and television, people like to watch hearsay history. Apart from a few people who like to take things too seriously, most people can tell what is historically true and what is artistic exaggeration. Look at yourself, buddy, you're really good at acting! If I were to play someone who had transmigrated from ancient times to modern times, I would not be able to think as thoroughly as you do. I'm totally convinced! Come on, take it easy, don't get so carried away, like you've actually met Cixi!"
However, the boy refuses to come out of the character and replies in a serious manner, "Naturally, I have met her before. Qiuchen once sang for the Empress Dowager Cixi and was quite appreciated by Her Imperial Highness."
"Don't be ridiculous! You've sung for the Old Buddha?"[1]
"And the Empress Dowager Cian and the Emperor…"
All these details haven't been mentioned in his script of Qingqing. How much peripheral homework has this kid done? Yuan Ge wonders. However, Rong Qiuchen looks serious and doesn't seem to be joking at all. Yuan Ge bemoans to himself silently, "I don't believe it, how can he pretend to be someone from the Guangxu period and not make a single mistake! I'm gong to catch him out tonight!"
As if treating this as a fun game, Yuan Ge decides to test how much he really knows about the Qing Dynasty. He continues to play the TV drama for him and askes him questions while checking his answers online with his mobile phone. Surprisingly, Rong Qiuchen knows everything about the Qing Dynasty and the court affairs from the Xianfeng to Guangxu years, and can even easily point out inaccuracies in social customs and court etiquette in the TV series.
"I see, no wonder you don't want to admit that you are a student of NATA or IFA. So you are actually a student of the History Faculty at Beijing University! With such an in-depth knowledge of Qing dynasty history, I salute you. You certainly know more than me in this subject."
"Childe Yuan, you are too kind. I do not deserve your praise. When I was an actor, most of the people I socialised with were the members of the imperial house and important figures of the imperial court, and there was no shortage of talk about politics and court affairs. Later when I entered the House of Rong, as the Second Lord was an important minister of the court and the Third Lord read widely, I was influenced by them and often listened to their conversations and learned a few things, hence I was able to answer your questions."
"So, you're determined to continue cosplaying Rong Qiuchen and refuse to come out of the play?" After losing this round of "history test", Yuan Ge suddenly realises that it was really silly of him to use this method to try and catch him out. Who is Rong Qiuchen? The winner of the Flowers of the Opera Stage, aka the best Beijing Opera actor in the country at the time! Instead of testing his knowledge of history, why not test his operatic singing skills! With that in mind, he picka up the remote control and switches to the Beijing Opera channel, which happens to be showing "Selections from the Best Beijing Opera Actors".
"Okay, let's hear your thoughts on this piece. What do you think? How well did this guy sing?"
After listening to a few lines, to Yuan Ge's surprise, Rong Qiuchen gets quite emotional and laments, "I never thought that after a hundred years, this national art treasure would retreat to this extent instead of advancing!"
"What- what do you mean by that?" Yuan Ge is confused by his words again.
"If Childe Yuan wants to hear the truth from me, I shall say that this singer in that Magic Box cannot even beat my youngest brother of the Jinyu Troupe."
"I don't know much about Beijing Opera, but that's an arrogant thing to say! If you're so good at it, sing me a verse!"
"I have no other skills, but when it comes to opera singing, I am certainly worthy of my masters' teaching." Rong Qiuchen answers readily, his face looking proud.
"I don't have time to warm up my voice, so I'll sing a few lines just for Childe Yuan to have a laugh." He opens his mouth and sings the same piece he just heard on TV, but his tone is higher and rounder, like a hundred birds singing in the cloud or an ancient zither played in the moonlight, at times warm and invigorating, at others soulful and melodious, leaving Yuan Ge completely mesmerised.
"Why the bloody hell are you singing in the middle of the night! Do you know that other people need to sleep!"
When they hear the neighbour shouting through the wall, Rong Qiuchen stops singing abruptly, and Yuan Ge comes back to his senses as if waking up from a dream.
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[1] Old Buddha is the common name given to the Empress Dowager or the retired Emperor during the Qing Dynasty. It usually refers to the Empress Dowager Cixi.
