Wu Yimin & Lin Yanyun - Aria from "Xi Shi Gui Yue" 吴奕敏,林燕云-潮剧西施归越

"Xi Shi Gui Yue" - literally, "Xi Shi Returns to the State of Yue". Performed by the Academy of Guangdong Chaozhou Opera No. 1 Performing Troupe (广东潮剧院一团).

Set during the Spring and Autumn period (770BC - 476BC), Xishi, one of the legendary 4 great beauties of ancient China, was sent on a mission to seduce and weaken Fu Chai, king of the state of Wu, who was known to have a lascivious appetite.

This plot was hatched by Xishi's lover, Fan Li, who was chief advisor to the king of Yue. As Yue was a conquered state living in subordination to the mightier Wu, this strategy was deemed necessary to avenge Yue's defeat and recover Yue's lost prestige.

When Xishi eventually accomplished her mission, with Fu Chai slain, and Yue forces crushing all of Wu's remnants to bits, she was welcomed home - albeit initially.

The opera takes on from here and it offers an interesting insight into the issues that confront a home-coming heroine who has sacrificed her innocence for the sake of her home state. The script was originally written for Yue opera (越剧), and subsequently adapted for Chaoju, famously performed by Singapore's Nam Hwa Amateur Musical & Dramatic Association (南华儒剧社).

Problems surfaced when Xishi found herself carrying the baby of Fu Chai. More issues arose when she found herself ostracized by her fellow kinsmen who questioned her integrity.

In this touching duet, Xishi reveals to Fan Li that she is pregnant, but his reaction is a total surprise to her.