CHAPTER 127 — THE HAND THAT CLOSED EVERY DOOR
The man's brows lifted ever so slightly, a faint ripple of curiosity passing through his otherwise composed demeanour.
"A contract?" he repeated. "And what sort of contract does Miss Tang wish to establish?"
Tang Kexin exhaled softly. His willingness to entertain the idea meant he had, in essence, agreed. That alone eased a knot of tension in her chest.
"May I trouble Sect Leader for pen and paper?" she asked politely.
He gestured, and moments later someone arrived with ink, brush, and fine paper. Tang Kexin accepted them without hesitation. Though she had not been born in this era, her father had insisted she practise calligraphy from a young age. Her hand was steady, her strokes confident.
"So you can write," the man observed, watching her with interest. "Your script lacks the delicate elegance expected of a young lady. Instead, it carries a certain… grandeur."
Tang Kexin ignored him and continued writing.
"When did you learn to write so well?" he asked again, clearly fishing for conversation.
She paused only long enough to lift her gaze.
"Sect Leader claims to know everything," she replied lightly. "Should you not already know?"
The corner of his mouth curved beneath the mask. At last, he fell silent.
When she finished, she copied the contract neatly onto a second sheet and slid one copy across the table to him.
He picked it up with a casual air — but the moment his eyes scanned the first few lines, his posture changed. The nonchalance vanished, replaced by a seriousness he could not conceal.
This woman's contract was airtight.
Every clause was precise.
Every loophole sealed.
Every potential misinterpretation accounted for.
It was stricter than treaties signed between nations.
How could a young woman think so thoroughly?
How could she write such a flawless agreement on the spot?
It was the first time he had ever seen a woman draft a contract — and she had done so with a meticulousness that bordered on frightening.
Why, of all people, did he have to encounter such a troublesome woman?
"How does Sect Leader find it?" Tang Kexin asked, noticing his prolonged silence. "It is only a few lines. Does it truly require so much time to read?"
"Mm. Not bad," he said at last, though his eyes flickered when they landed on the line demanding fifty thousand taels of silver.
He doubted she could produce such a sum. Perhaps he could use that to his advantage.
"If Sect Leader has no objections, then we shall proceed," Tang Kexin said, her lips curving faintly.
Finally, it was settled.
She signed both copies, pressed her fingerprint onto each, and pushed one towards him.
He picked up the brush, glanced at her briefly, and signed.
When she retrieved the contract, she saw the signature:
Suo Yan Sect.
No name.
No title.
Nothing personal.
This man was determined to remain a mystery.
"Would Sect Leader care to leave a handprint as well?" she asked. "Since you prefer not to reveal your name."
He shook his head faintly, as though amused by her caution, but he complied. Only then did she relax.
She handed him his copy, expecting him to discard it carelessly. After all, the contract mattered only to her.
But instead, he folded it neatly and tucked it away.
Tang Kexin's eyes narrowed.
"When I return, I shall send the jade pendants to Sect Leader," she said. "You need only return them to Mu Shaoyi. This transaction is simple and mutually beneficial."
"I will not be here long," he replied. "You will not find me."
Tang Kexin frowned. That was indeed a problem. With his level of secrecy, locating him again would be nearly impossible.
"How about I return on the eleventh of next month?" she suggested. "At this same place."
He let out a soft laugh.
"Do you imagine I appear here on the eleventh of every month?"
She stiffened. Of course not. With his status, he would not linger in such a place regularly.
"Rest assured," he said, his tone gentling. "Once you pay, my Suo Yan Sect will complete the transaction. The rest is not for you to worry about."
"Oh. Very well."
His meaning was clear: he would come to retrieve the pendants himself. In that case, she should place them somewhere obvious.
But considering the Suo Yan Sect's abilities, it hardly mattered where she put them. They would find them regardless.
"I will complete this matter within three days," he continued. "When the time comes, I expect Miss Tang to have the silver prepared. I do not tolerate arrears."
His tone was firm, businesslike.
"Agreed," Tang Kexin said without hesitation.
She had many valuable items in her room — treasures bestowed by the Empress and the Prime Minister's wife. Two or three pieces would easily cover the amount.
The man's eyes narrowed slightly, a peculiar smile flickering beneath the mask.
---
After leaving the restaurant, Tang Kexin returned to the Prime Minister's Estate. She placed the jade pendants in the main hall.
"Miss, what are you doing?" Dong'er asked, bewildered. "Didn't you say we must hide them well? Why take them out now?"
"Just leave them here," Tang Kexin said, placing them atop a drawer. "I'm not worried about theft."
Dong'er stared at her as though she had lost her mind.
"Miss, this is the Mu family's heirloom. It is priceless. Are you not afraid someone will steal it?"
"I'm fine," Tang Kexin replied, closing the drawer.
She then entered her room, opened her jewellery chest, and placed two items before Dong'er.
"If you pawn these," she asked, "how much silver could you get?"
Dong'er's eyes widened.
"Miss… you want to pawn these? These were given to you by the Empress! How could you?"
Tang Kexin blinked. "All of them?"
Dong'er nodded. "Most of the valuable pieces were bestowed by the Empress or the Prime Minister's wife. The Prime Minister is incorruptible, and the Prime Minister's wife is frugal, so her gifts are modest. But the Empress's gifts… they are priceless."
"Why does Miss need so much silver?" Dong'er asked, still stunned.
Tang Kexin rolled her eyes. "Because I lack money. What else?"
She opened the jewellery drawer fully.
"Which of these is worth fifty thousand taels?"
Dong'er nearly fainted.
"F-fifty thousand taels? Miss, what do you need so much silver for?"
"Just tell me which pieces are valuable," Tang Kexin insisted. "I don't have time to explain."
Dong'er sighed. "Anything bestowed by the Empress will fetch a high price. Choose any two."
Tang Kexin selected several items and handed them over.
"Pawn these. Bring me fifty thousand taels. If there is extra, return it."
Dong'er nodded reluctantly and hurried out.
---
Two hours later, she returned — pale and unsettled.
"What happened?" Tang Kexin asked.
"Miss… none of the pawnshops would take them."
Tang Kexin stared. "None?"
Dong'er shook her head vigorously.
"Every shopkeeper refused. Some did not even look at the items. A few seemed tempted — their eyes were greedy — but they still refused. They all said the same thing: they cannot accept anything from us."
Tang Kexin's eyes narrowed.
Dong'er continued, "Miss, I think someone ordered them not to accept our goods. But who would do such a thing? And how would they know you intended to pawn jewellery?"
Tang Kexin's gaze sharpened.
Someone had interfered.
Someone who knew her movements.
Someone who knew her intentions.
Someone who had the power to influence every pawnshop in the capital.
There was only one possibility.
Her eyes darkened.
That man…
He was far too cunning.