Playwright (1957): TONG Tik-sang (1917-1959)
Script Editors (2022): Rex NG, CHEUNG Kwan-hin

Marriage in times of upheaval must weather storms.
The marriage vow of Princess and Sai-hin was simultaneous with the downfall of Ming dynasty in 1644. Romance mingled with the roars of war: “Marriage in times of upheaval must weather storms.” Fragrant warmth suddenly gave way to the need to withstand calamities knocking at the door in a run-up to darkness.

Palace in fire
LEI Zi-sing broke into Peking. Emperor Sung-zing ordered the hanging of his wife and concubines and tried and hand-killed his daughters, before hanging himself as self-reprimand.

The usurper was in turn usurped. Half way through LEI’s emperor-dream, the Manchurians took his place and established the Qing dynasty. The kingdom changed her family name. People changed their clothing and males adopted a front-shaved hair style. The Han-Chinese civilization had her very last kingdom ousted. Is the culture of a great people gone with the wind?

Life harsher than death
Princess Coeng-ping had been saved by the government official ZAU Zung, and was now living a life harsher than death. When stirring strains visit one after another, what options are left? ZAU and his son chose to betray Princess to climb upwards; Coeng-ping chose to die for filial and political piety; the daughter of ZAU chose to secretly help Princess out, setting up for her to disguise as a nun in a nunnery.

Our past?
Heaven set up an encounter. Sai-hin passed by the nunnery and saw Princess dressed as a nun. "Though the warring fires are quietened, northern winds still rage on." In dire anxiety, she dared not admit her true identity. After repeated persuasions in vain, he threatened to suicide, whereby she was forced to so admit, "In vain are my endless denials"

"The red wooden fish speaks grievous notes, but cannot mend a broken empire."

Confrontation
Sai-hin took ZAU to Princess, who mistook Sai-hin to be a guy after money and power, and fell almost completely collapsed. So, a deepest confrontation was on show. Sai-hin was in fact having a high-risk strategy: "A secret scheme is pulled off. Who is after the new reign and betraying the old?" Genuine risk and piercing pain are the inevitable cost to deceive the enemy and earn their belief.

Dignity and Hope
When they were finally alone, he disclosed his scheme: now that the late emperor was not yet buried and the crown prince still in custody, "Princess could well sell for a good price. Our royal wedding is the only way." While Qing Emperor is conciliating, why not beat him at his own game, namely we fake to return to the palace for wedding, in exchange for them to "to ensure a proper burial of the late emperor" for his and the kingdom's dignity, and "to free the Crown Prince," to give the kingdom a thread of hope. After all this, during their wedding, the couple would kill themselves,  nullifying enemy's scheme and giving them a blow at the same time. "The sacrifice achieves much."

Impossible strike-back
Coeng-ping wrote her petition. Sai-hin carried it into the Palace. As the plan unfolded, they were approaching death. He gamed with the Qing Emperor, reading aloud the text, "Three hundred years of splendor are gone in three days; the blood from my heart fills these seven lines."

Plan B
The Princess returned to the palace, "I fear to see bloodstains in Kin-cing Palace, recognizable despite wear and tear." However, while Emperor has the authority to give promises, he is also powerful enough not to honour them. Plan B "Pricess's wailing shakes the capital" embarrassed everybody. Emperor attempted to eat his words but in vain.  He eventually decreed for proper burial of the late emperor and freeing the crown prince. Emperor succumbed,  "Even if she demands the distant moon, I shall fetch it for her."

Raining petals obscure moonlight
"Death, Don't be haughty!" Life is dear; love is even dearer. In the face of mission, both can be scrapped. During their wedding, they committed suicide as martyrs for their country and their love: "Raining petals obscure the moonlight… Husband and wife die together like the trunks of these trees."

Floral Princess 65th Anniversary
a series of 9 events
Floral Princess | Professional Edition
ArenA | Write on, as THE tribute to YAM-PAK-TONG
Floral Princess | Theatre Student Edition
Floral Princess | Theatrical Concert Student Edition
Floral Princess | Recital Student Edition
Call Loud Yeah! | Black Box Theatre Festival
Seoi-bo-long Video Festival
A Collection of Coeng-ping Images 65
Raining Petals: An Orchestral Re-imagining