CHAPTER 128 — WHEN EVERY DOOR CLOSED AT HIS COMMAND
The only person who knew she needed such an enormous sum of silver was the masked Sect Leader of the Suo Yan Sect. No one else had been told. No one else could have guessed. And yet, every pawnshop in the capital had suddenly refused to accept her valuables.
If he prevented her from pawning anything, how was she supposed to gather the fifty thousand taels she owed him?
But then she remembered — the Suo Yan Sect was not lacking in money. They had refused Mu Shaoyi's commission not because they could not profit from it, but because they simply did not need the silver.
So what, exactly, was that man trying to do?
Was he deliberately blocking her path?
Was he trying to force her into a corner?
And once she failed to pay him on time… then what?
Tang Kexin's eyes darkened.
"Give me the items. I'll go myself," she said abruptly, rising to her feet.
"Miss—Miss!" Dong'er hurried after her. "It may not be proper for you to go in person."
"What's improper about it? It's only business." Tang Kexin strode out of the courtyard without hesitation.
---
She entered the first pawnshop with calm steps. The shopkeeper looked up — and his pupils contracted sharply, as though he had seen a ghost.
"Shopkeeper," Tang Kexin said, placing two exquisite items on the counter, "please appraise these for me."
The man's mouth twitched. He looked at the items with undisguised longing — but his expression twisted with helplessness.
"Miss… our pawnshop has received orders. For the next three days, we may only sell goods, not accept them."
He spoke clearly, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
Tang Kexin's eyes narrowed.
"Orders from above? And which 'above' would that be?"
The man swallowed. "I… cannot say. Only that it is someone we cannot afford to offend."
Tang Kexin's lips curved into a cold smile.
Someone she could not afford to offend?
Someone who knew she needed money within three days?
Someone who had promised to complete her task within three days?
There was only one person.
"This person," she said softly, "is he from the imperial court?"
The shopkeeper paled. "Miss, please do not jest. Please leave."
"Or perhaps," she continued, her gaze sharp, "a prince?"
The man's eyes flickered wildly. He lowered his voice to a whisper.
"I should not say this… but the order came from the Suo Yan Sect. How could we possibly offend them?"
Tang Kexin watched him closely. He was not lying.
So the Sect Leader had indeed issued the order.
But why?
To prevent her from paying him?
To force her into debt?
To trap her?
And how much had he paid these pawnshops to refuse her?
"What happens to your business if you refuse all goods for three days?" she asked.
The shopkeeper's expression brightened slightly.
"Oh, we shall not suffer any loss. The Suo Yan Sect has already compensated us generously. Far more than we would earn in three days."
Tang Kexin's mouth twitched.
Generously?
Judging by the man's expression, the amount must have been staggering.
How much silver had that masked devil thrown around simply to block her path?
Was he mad?
What was he trying to achieve?
One thing was certain — she could not use any pawnshop in the capital.
She would have to find another way.
But what way?
---
When they stepped outside, Tang Kexin's expression was grim.
"Dong'er," she asked, "is the Suo Yan Sect truly that wealthy?"
Dong'er nodded vigorously. "It is said they are extremely rich. Very, very rich."
"How rich?" Tang Kexin pressed.
Dong'er frowned, searching for the right words. "Miss knows the Mu family is wealthy, yes? But it is said that the Mu family's fortune is not even a tenth of the Suo Yan Sect's."
Tang Kexin stopped walking.
"…What?"
The Mu family was the wealthiest in the empire. Their businesses spanned the entire realm. Their influence was unmatched.
And yet the Suo Yan Sect was ten times richer?
"Where did they get so much money?" Tang Kexin muttered. "They only rose to power a few years ago."
Dong'er nodded. "It is said the Suo Yan Sect was founded five years ago. In that short time, they have surpassed every other sect. It sounds unbelievable, but the rumours are consistent."
Tang Kexin felt a chill run down her spine.
"What would happen," she asked quietly, "if someone were to offend the Suo Yan Sect?"
Dong'er nearly tripped. "Offend them? Who would dare? That is not courting death — that is dying without even knowing how!"
Tang Kexin quickened her pace.
"Miss, why are you walking so fast?" Dong'er hurried after her.
"Because if I cannot gather fifty thousand taels in three days," Tang Kexin said darkly, "your young lady may die without knowing how."
Dong'er gasped. "Why? What do you mean?"
"Because I," Tang Kexin said with a sigh, "have unfortunately offended someone from the Suo Yan Sect."
Dong'er froze. "W-what? Miss offended someone from the Suo Yan Sect?"
"To be precise," Tang Kexin corrected, "I offended the Sect Leader."
Dong'er nearly fainted.
Tang Kexin continued walking.
She needed silver.
She needed it quickly.
And she needed to hide the jade pendants so he could not find them.
If he could not retrieve them within three days, the contract would be void.
But when she returned to her room and opened the drawer—
The jade pendants were gone.
Tang Kexin froze.
Dong'er shrieked. "Miss! The jade pendants— they're missing! How could they disappear so quickly?"
Tang Kexin's expression darkened.
"No need to call anyone," she said quietly. "The Sect Leader took them."
He had come into her home.
Into the Prime Minister's Estate.
Into her room.
And taken them without leaving a trace.
Now she had no leverage left.
She needed silver — and fast.
Borrowing from Ye Lanchen was her only option.
But it was already late. She would have to wait until morning.
---
The next day, she went to Ye Lanchen's manor. As fate would have it, he had just stepped down from his carriage.
"Xinxin!" he exclaimed, delighted. "Why are you here?"
"I was waiting for you," she said bluntly.
His eyes lit up. "Is something the matter?"
Tang Kexin inhaled deeply.
"Can you take out fifty thousand taels of silver?"
Ye Lanchen nearly choked. "F-fifty thousand? But Xin, why do you need so much?"
"I offended a despicable, sinister villain," she muttered through clenched teeth.
Before Ye Lanchen could respond, a deep, magnetic voice drifted from behind her.
"Oh? And which despicable villain did Miss Tang offend?"
Tang Kexin did not need to turn around.
She knew exactly who it was.
Her eyes flashed — a strange, dangerous light flickering in their depths.