"Three Qin Songs"

Verse 96

You may rely on Baili's destiny
A small orphan boy may be entrusted to you
The time of meeting is approaching, do not arrive late
Laughter and shouting
Gathering in a place not your home
Everyone happy, healthy and in harmony.

In verse 96 the first sentence refers to
the opera about Baili Xi and his wife.

The story of prime minister Baili Xi and his wife is one of the three opera's mentioned in this verse. They are Ming dynasty chuanqi (miracle tales).
Her song is called "Doorbar Song"

The lyrics of this Qin song are said to be those sung by his forgotten wife to remind him of the vows they made when they first separated: they were so poor that they had to burn the doorbar in order to cook their parting dinner.

The Doorbar Song

Courtladies playing

Baili Xi of ramskin
when we parted we cooked the hen,
and burned the doorbar.
Now you are rich and have forgotten me.

In the qin repertoire this melody survives only from Xilutang Qintong (1525 In Yanyi Ge these lyrics are repeated six times, comprising the first half of each of the six sections of the melody; the second half of each is purely instrumental. This structure is quite uncommon.

Baili Xi is left his wife to find success. They were so poor that in order to cook their parting meal they had to burn the doorpost for fuel. As they did so he promised they would eventually be together again.
However, by the time he had become successful, he had forgotten her. She was then so impoverished that she travelled to Qin and became a washerwoman. Finding her husband there, she made her way to the court, sang this song, and thus was eventually reconciled with him.

Baili Xi's wife is not mentioned in pre-Han sources or the Shi Ji, according to which Baili Xi was born of a poor family in the state of Yu. He traveled around offering his services to many rulers but was unsuccessful, finally returning to serve his home state. However, the Duke of Yu did not follow Baili Xi's advice and Yu was destroyed by Jin. Baili Xi was taken to Jin as a captive, but he escaped and tried to get to Qin. However, he was captured in Chu.

Duke Mu of Qin (reigned 659-621) offered five ramskins as ransom for Baili Xi, fearing that if he offered more the people of Chu would realize how valuable Baili Xi was. The ruse was successful.
Duke Mu of Qin raised him up to be minister and Baili Xi brought great success to Qin through his policies as Prime Minister.

At a banquet music was presented. A woman responsible for the wash said she understood music, and called (for permission to) enter the hall, where she took out a qin and sang. The meaning of the lyrics was grievous and pitiful. When asked, she said she was his legal wife, and they returned to being husband and wife.
Nicknamed the Ramskin Grandee, he was also known as a man of the people, who did not put on airs, and so was greatly mourned when he died.

The qin or guqin is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family. It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favoured by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement.

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