183 Beijing Operas - Xue Kui - Number 45

Xue Kui

Beijing Opera - "Xu Ce Rushes Around the City"

Xue Kui with a black broken-flower face stars in "Xu Ce Rushes Around the City" based on a story in "Xue Gang Rebels Against the Tang." Xue Kui was Xue Gang's son. In the opera Xue Jiao, who is Xue Gang's nephew, is falsely accused of a crime by a wicked official called Zhang Tai. Carrying a letter from Xu Ce, a Tang Minister and his adopted father, he flees Chang'an to join his uncle and Xue Kui, and together they attack Chang'an. When Xu Ce hears of their attack he rushes to the top of city wall to size up the situation, and then rushes into the imperial palace to ask that Xue Jiao's wrong be redressed. After the emperor executes the wicked Zhang Tai, Xu Ce persuades Xue Gang and Xue Kui to withdraw their forces.