His playful complexion suddenly changed profoundly. He tilted down his head, patting his fan lighly on his arm, "Qin er, you can put down your act. Don't speak formally to me as if I am a stranger."
His voice was soft, yet serious. The arrogant man from before had dispersed to the thin air. Qin er looked at him directly as deep sharp gaze denuded her completely.
"Have you figured it out?" She swayed her head, unable to look at those eyes. The feeling from years before came back to her in a second - an admiration and guilt. The man before her had relinquished his facade, turning in his former self.
"It's not complicated. The time I heard the building name, I knew that this was not an ordinary brothel -- carp fish is the emperor hidden symbol for imperial private investigation bureau." He answered calmly.
"Few months ago, an imperial decret came along with the black qilin seal to summon me before him. To think that he had the guts... No, someone must have given that idea to him. Is it you?"
"You are so perceptive."
"Qin er, answer me honestly. How come he have this seal?" The man rose his tone.
"It's 'The Majesty', not 'him'. Here is not Qing state. You can lose your head by addressing 'The Majesty' carelessly."
The man shut his mouth in a silent. He did not care losing his head for being rude to the emperor. He just wanted a truth. He remembered vividly, the black qilin seal was entrusted to him by Yang Jun before he died. That thing should be in his possession. But, he lost it before he even knew. And now, he was intrigued how it ended in the emperor's hand.
Xiao Qiao smiled as her fingers danced haphazardly on guqin, "You are wrong about one thing."
"The qilin seal is not my idea, but Master Lin Jing's."
He looked at Xiao Qiao puzzly. She paused for a while. Her fingers were trembled that she stopped playing guqin.
"Master Sun, what do you think of Yang residence massacre?"
"The incident had a lot of oddities -- as if someone deliberately frame Yang Family and elimininate all of them. The Majesty has never given up to seek the truth behind it."
She turned to Ashile Sun, walking toward him. She grabbed his arm robe shiveringly.
"I am saying these not because he saved me during that time, but because I have sworn loyalty toward Master Yang Jun."
"Master Lin Jing knew that I have been secretly working with The Majesty."
She opened her mouth reminiscing that time she met Lin Jing -- one year after the incident. He barged in the Carp Building, bribing few ingots of gold. At that time, Lin Jing was still young and handsome. He was around 40 years old, the same age with deceased Yang Jun.
"I have been looking for you and you are hiding in this crappy brothel? Have you lose your mind?" Lin Jing stormed out. Xiao Qiao did not say anything. She did not even dare to look at him.
"If Yang Jun knew -- what will I say to him in afterlife that I cannot look after his only disciple that she becomes a courtesan?"
"Master Lin Jing, you are still young and handsome. I believe you can live longer..."
"Silly girl! Don't sweet talk to me. Tell me now. Who? Fu Ling? How much? I can pay more gold than his throne. I will redeem you, even if he ask back for god-damn Qing territory."
Hearing him cursing, Xiao Qiao knew Lin Jing was furious. She then kneeled before him, embracing his feet tightly.
She shook her head, crying out loud, "Master Lin Jing, please. Let me atone for my fault...."
Lin Jing stopped after hearing her.
"What the heck are you spourting?"
"I have nightmare everynight. I always think that what happened to Yang residence is my fault. If only my master did not pick me up, raising me as his own, he would not die -- even the entire family. The 3000 soldiers under Yang name would not be executed. I have the blood of sinner."
"Silly girl. You are talking nonsense. No one is blaming you. What happened to Yang family is a fateful tragedy, not even God can do anything to change it. Why are you blaming yourself?"
"The Majesty think something odd about it. And by residing here, I am6 helping him gathering information, hopefully to disclose the case and avange the Yang Family."
"If that is the case, you can work for me. I am current investigating it. It may not be tantamountly efficien as Yang Jun was. Nevertheless, we have the lead."
"Master, don't forget that you had cut off your sleeve at that night -- representing as cutting off relation between Gifu and Qing."
"I am different. I can be your eyes and ears in capital city. I can get information from The Majesty."
"Silly girl, you are really dumb. He is dead. The tie between you have been perished. You can live freely, finding someone you love, getting married, and have a family. This is how you live on his behalf. This is the life he want you to have. Why are you still holding on it?"
"I can't live that way. I owe him my life. If I cannot avange his death, I don't have any meaning in life. Just kill me and let accompany my master in afterlife."
He could not bear to see her in despair. He bent down to meet her eyes. He cupped her cheek, and wiped her tears.
" 慎终追远 Shèn zhōng zhuī yuǎn—'Honor the dead, cherish their memory'. But if you insisted walking on the path of avenge, I have nothing to say. Really, you and him are much alike." He sighed
"Him? Is he....?"
"Yes, A Sun. He is much worse than the death -- so worst that ToubaShan has to watch him all the time..." He tilted down his head thinking of something.
"Qin er, I will frankly tell you, I do not trust Fu Ling entirely. He was a kind, wise, and compassionate man. The one is suitable to be a king. He has encountered a lot of hardship to hone his path to the throne. But at the time he reaches the top, he begins to change into domineering and deceitful."
"As a proverb said 居高易变心" (Jū gāo yì biàn xīn) -- Those in high positions easily change their hearts. Everything happened past these years was not coincidence. It was well planned. Yang Jun must have found something important that he had to sacrificed himself."
"Too bad, I was arrived too late to see the Yang residence turned to ruins and ashes. The whole family, servants, and soldier publicly executed. And the one who gave the order was not other than Fu Ling, the emperor himself. What an irony!"
"If you really want to walk on this path, it too will full of thorns. Your hand might be pricked, or worst you could lose it. Are you really willing to take it?" he streched his hand out. Soon, Xiao Qiao fetched it and stood up.
"Master Lin Jing, I am willing."
He took something out of his robe and put it in Xiao Qiao's hand.
"Do you know what is this? It's a Yang Family's crest. A black qilin seal. It serves as protector of Great Gifu."
"How do you have it?"
"I took it from A Sun. This seal was the last thing Yang Jun entrusted to him. I believe this one is Yang Jun's clue that he cherished more than his own life."
"What should I do with it? Why do you give it to me?"
"The Great Gifu political strength is following the yin yang and feng shui concept. The east which hold governmental ministry position is given to Yang Family. It takes the form of a qilin.
The south which hold the fertility and prosperity position is given to Wu Family. It takes the form of a turtle with the snake head.
The west which hold military position is given to Wei Family. It takes the form of roaring tiger.
The north which hold the logevity and health position is given to the Shu. It takes the form of a peacock.
Thus, a famous rhymes comes from this concept, The Yang of east, The Wei of West, The Shu of North, and The Wu of South. All are united to protect the dragon of Gifu which is the emperor's family line."
"Yang Jun left it to A Sun might indicate that something bad had happened within imperial line. Moreover, the black qilin seal is the second powerful to emperor dragon seal. This seal alone can defy emperor's order. Due to Yang Jun's smartass brain, he was more well known than emperor himself. His presence alone was a threat."
"Take it with you. Yang Jun's death is only beginning. If one day either you or great gifu in dire danger, use this seal to ask Qing for help. I have severed ties to Fu Ling. But on behalf of Yang Jun, the black qilin will always be welcomed. This seal will move a certain someone when he sees it. This it the last thing I can do for Gifu." He said in sorrow.
"Time surely flies fast. It is just like a yesterday when I, Yang Jun, Touba Shan, Fu Ling sat under the peach trees, enjoying the spring breeze, drinking the peach wine as we took the oath as sworn brothers. That little rascal A Sun did not want join us no matter how much we nagged him. And now the brotherhood is scattered."
He teared up but quickly hid his tears behind the sleeves. He walked toward the table, pouring a cup of a wine and emptying it to the floor. It was a tribute to Yang Jun.
"Brother Jun, Lin Jing and Qin er pour you a cup of wine, hoping you can still smile and bring happiness to the afterlife."
After he said that, he turned to Qin er, grinning, "I have one more thing to ask. You have been living with Yang Jun for five years. You have probably have intuition about A Sun. Even if he always wears mask concealing his face and identity, I hope you can keep this as secret, specially from Fu Ling."
"That was the last time I saw him. It had been more than decade, I kept my promise to this day."