"I want Xiao Qiao..."
The middle age woman was shocked hearing that name. She tried to reason with him, "Aigo, young master, you indeed have a good taste for woman. Xiao Qiao is our first class courtesan. She is the most popular and favourite in this building. However, she is off limit."
"Off limit? What does it mean?" He raised his eyebrows. His glance was sharp which could make anyone shivering just from looking at it.
"Aia, young master..." She hit his arm lightly and seductively. "Despite her popularity, this woman is so difficult to handle. There have been a lot of men from around the world who wanted to be served by her. Alas, all of them went home in frustration."
"I see young master is a delicate person. I am afraid, young master cannot handle such woman. What about the second rank below her? Xiuxiu, please come here --"
Her words were cut by the laughter of that man. He raised his fan, tapping lightly on the madam's chin. "Repeat it again. Do you think I cannot handle a woman?" His gaze was terrifying. Realising the fear look on the woman's eyes, he retracted.
"I -- have been spending my life pursuing beauties. Countless of women and men had fallen in my arms. Do you think I cannot handle a courtesan?" He tapped the fan on his hand, looking straight at the madam.
"Well, I - I..." She lost of words.
"Is it about money?" The man took a money pouch from his robe, giving her one ingot of gold. That gold made anyone in the room froze in motion, widening their eyes. That was a huge sum of money, that one could offer. It could even buy their freedom.
"Hmm... not enough?" When he was about to give another ingot, a girl whom running from the hall, approached them, kowtowing, "Madam Cho, Miss Xiao would like to see this gentleman."
Out of the words, Madam Cho just smiled awkwardly. She tilted down her head a little as agreement to let the gentleman pass. "Please come with me, Young master." The girl said again. Before he followed the little girl, Madam Cho extended her hands in front of the man. With huge grin on her face, she asked for the gold ingot, which that man gladly put it on her hand.
The little girl guided him across the hall, climbing up the stairs to third story. She stopped in front of one of the rooms. She bowed down with her arms stretching out, as if to invite him in.
"What is your name?" He asked, but the girl stayed silent. "How come a small girl like you stay in a place like this?" Again, the girl did not respond.
"Take this money..." he threw his money pouch to the girl. "You may use it as you wish, including buying your freedom. The girl accepted it reluctantly. Her voice trembled, "Th - thank you, My lord." He gave the girl a warm sincere smile.
At the time he opened the door, a melodious guqin could be heard.

It was (陽關三疊 Yáng guān sān dié) an infamous piece about emotional farewell and the deepest yearning two best friend - a perfect piece to express his feeling right now.
The music came from another chamber which partitioned by thin red fabric. The man sat on the round chair. He poured himself a cup of a wine, sipping it.
The guqin player started to sing. The voice was pleasing to ear. It was crisp, tender, sweet, yet heart breaking. The man closed his eyes. As the song kept playing, he shed a tear in silence.
渭城朝雨浥輕塵,
Weicheng's morning rain dampens the dust,
客舍青青柳色新.
By the inn, fresh and green, the willows glow.
勸君更盡一杯酒,
I beg you, drink yet another cup of wine,
西出陽關無故人!
For west of Yang Pass, no old friends you'll know!
依依顧戀不忍離,
Reluctant to part, we linger in sorrow,
淚滴沾巾.
Tears soak our handkerchiefs, wet with pain.
感懷,感懷,
Ah, my heart! My heart!
思君十二時辰.
I'll think of you through all twelve hours again.
芳草遍如茵
Fragrant grasses spread like a mat,
旨酒,旨酒,
Sweet wine, sweet wine,
未飲心已先醇.
My heart is drunk before the cup I drain.
載馳駰,載馳駰,
Gallop, gallop away,
何日言旋軒轔?
When will your carriage return again?
The song awoke a bittersweet memory within him. It reminded him for certain someone - the one he kept true, hidden in his heart. He dared not to forget that the person was the only reason, he strived to this day.
It was cold winter, when their fate accidentally collided. He had been not eaten for days. In that cold winter, he bravely stole some pieces of hot buns. While running from the shop keeper, he bumped the young Yang Jun. Instead of sending him to be beaten up, Yang Jun protected him. He paid for the buns and took him home. Since that day, he had roof under his head, a warm blanket accompanying his sleep, and delicious meals each time he was hungry.
Moreover, he had someone who was willing to share his life, someone who did not hesitate to trust him blindly. Their fate and life had been entangled. Through Yang Jun, he learnt friendship, patriotism, selfless, love, sacrifice, and heart broken. His sole existance was all because of Yang Jun.
However, the life of a man was so short. He reckoned how Yang Jun ended in his embrace - soaking with blood and dying. He shouted his name until his throat was sore, unable to let out a voice. He felt like his world was collapsed. He was almost dying from craziness. And yet, he lived to this day.
"It's a rare sight to see such handsome gentleman being touched by my music. This servant is flattered." The woman stood up from her seat and walked passed the partition - revealing a delightfully mature woman. She wore lower shouldered red Qipao. She wore thin makeup with pink blushes on her cheek, her lips were crimson red, her eyes were round with slighly bright eye shadow. With her look, the way she walked and talked, along the talent in music, she deserved to be top courtesan.
"I heard the fuzz outside, saying that a heavenly good-looking man came to this building. Futhermore, it's a new face. I have been here for more than decade, good looking one like my lord is a rare sight." She smile while pouring the wine to fill the man's glass.
"I bet the capital city is running out of good quality man." The man teased back, waving his fan. He scoffed in his heart, good quality gentlemant will not go this place, specially in daylight.
"Indeed, My lord. Moreover, the one with loaded pocket, that can easily buy either me and my servant." She replied.
"I've never known I have to pay a lot of ransom to have a word with you. I hope my money worth it." He took the cup of wine and drank it in a go.
The woman grinned, "Am I up to my lord's expectation?"
He was silent and then continued, "Your music talent excel my expentancy. You have learnt it well, Qin er."
She smiled, but her expression turned sad. It's been a long time since someone called her that name, "Thank you. I learnt it from the best." she paused for a while, looking keenly at the man in front of him.
"You do not wear your mask today, My lord. Formerly, I always wondered, what was hiding behind that bronze mask. And now, I know it is beauty and misery..." She poured the wine for herself, sipping a bit to dampen her throat.
The man grinned, "You see through me."
"My lord is too commending. There are not many people know my maiden name. And now, I am afraid that my lord is the only one calling me like that. So I assume that --"
"Well, why don't you ask?"
She chuckled as her right hand covered her mouth gracefully, "When I was young, I was full of curiousity -- always wanted to know the secret of the universe. Until now, I have learnt that some secrets can cost life."
"Qin er, you have changed..."
"My lord, who wouldn't? I remembered my lord was someone aloof, not saying much, silently attending young master need. I didn't even think that my lord know my name. I can see I was wrong about you."
The man did not say anything at all. He poured wine to his cup.
"You are right. Who wouldn't?"
"Albeit, my lord appearance does not change at all. I have been serving Yang household for fifteen years. Your body complexion is just the same as you were. Even though you always wore the mask, the eyes and lips do not lie. I was much younger than you, and now I look older than you."
She stood up from the stool, walking toward partition where the guqin was. She steal a glace at the gentleman, "My lord does not have to be worried. I will keep your identity as gratitude."
Her fingers carressed guqin strings, and started to picked them, forming melodies, "I can live to this day is due to my lord. I even heard that my lord saved survivors from Yang's manor and accomodate them. They are my mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters in arms. I am grateful from the deepest of my heart."
"I am grateful that my lord did not abandon young master at all. I vividly recalled how my lord carried the dying young master on your back, while fighting your way out against thousands soldiers. The huge commotion made us possible to run away. Later on, I had never heard news about you. Until one day, young master Lin Jing came to see me here. I thought my lord had taken an oath not to step a foot to this capital city."
The man sighed, "Undoubtedly, still I have two reasons. One is to fulfill Lin Jing's wish." he paused a bit, then continued, "before he died..."
In the sudden, the guqin melody was ceased.
"W-when? And why?" Her voice slightly trembled.
"Half year ago. His disease has finally win over his body. You don't have to worry. He died peacefully."
Xiao Qiao smiled, "A philantropist like him should be favoured with peaceful death."
The man then stood up, walking toward Xiao Qiao, "The second reason is this..." He took out a black jade seal with Qilin image from his sleeve.
"The Yang family's crest?" She stuttered, not brave enough to mention that name.