Chapter 291: The Imperial Jade Seal Identified! A Genuine Artifact! The World is Shocked! (3)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“At last, we can return to the city!”
Museum staff were generally amenable to auctioning items wherever they were, so the location was not a problem. However, the wealthy patrons were quite disdainful of the mountain environment.
Soon enough, many of the wealthy individuals reluctantly left the site, knowing they had to depart eventually. All that remained were some onlookers from the general public. The affluent patrons and museum representatives descended the mountain together.
“Director, we cannot determine the grade of the Qingzhou Ding from the Nine Zhou Dings!”
Cultural relics experts struggled as they looked at the bronze tripod cauldron suspended from the tomb. The value of the item was impossible to grade. If it were genuine, it would be easy – they would classify it as an ultra-national treasure. However, it was a fake, though still a bronze tripod cauldron from the Qin Dynasty. Was it a Qin Dynasty imitation of the Nine Tripod Cauldrons? How could they possibly grade it?
“If we cannot grade this, then we cannot grade the fake Twelve Bronze Men either, right?”
The director of the cultural relics bureau stroked his chin and said, “For now, let us not worry about that. We will grade the other national treasures first!”
“Haha, since you said they are other national treasures, they must be national treasures indeed!” A team member laughed.
The following Suihou Pearl, the Imperial Jade Seal of the Realm, and the Tai’a Sword were all undoubtedly national treasures. If the Jade Seal of the Realm were genuine, it would undoubtedly be an ultra-national treasure.
By evening, everything except the over ten-meter-long bronze coffin had been transported away. There was no need for Luo Feng to stay any longer. The archaeological team would figure out a way to move it.
Around 8 pm, Luo Feng, accompanied by Su Meiji, Qin Rubing, Li Shishi, An Peng, Zhang Shunyong, and several others, took the helicopter from the military and reached the foot of the mountain. Arriving in the city streets, it seemed that many people were discussing the discovery of Zhao Gao’s tomb. Every street and alley was abuzz with the news.
“Shishi, come and massage my legs. These past few days have been exhausting!”
As soon as they entered the hotel, Luo Feng plopped down on the sofa, sprawling his legs onto the coffee table. Li Shishi was about to help him with a massage, but Qin Rubing stopped her. “Do not bother with him; he is acting like an old master.”
“Hehe, alright, Sister Rubing!” Li Shishi playfully stuck her tongue out at Luo Feng. As they interacted, the relationship between Qin Rubing and Li Shishi seemed to be quite good. Luo Feng was delighted to see this. If the two beautiful women got along, they could share ice pops without feeling awkward in the future, right?
Emmm, what a terrifying thought. Was he being too wicked?
Without further conversation, Luo Feng greeted everyone, and they each went to rest, waiting for the auction the following day. He had also promised that of the approximately 3,000 relics unearthed, the 35 wealthy heirs could each choose any item below the national treasure level to take away. After all, the treasure-hunting team had helped Luo Feng dig up quite a bit of soil. These small gifts had to be given.
During Luo Feng’s sleep, a count was conducted. There were a total of 3,599 cultural relics, all of which were now sealed in a five-star hotel in Xianyang. There were roughly 500 soldiers guarding the hotel inside and out. It was impossible for any suspicious individuals to get close. The cultural relics were all stored on the top floor of the hotel, where Luo Feng was also staying. As for the top floor, only Luo Feng’s close friends were allowed access. The wealthy patrons and museum staff were all accommodated on the lower seven floors, unable to come up.
In a suite on the seventh floor, Lin Yide, the curator of the Jiangnan Museum, received a call and his face lit up with joy.
“What? The Jiangnan authorities have granted our museum an interest-free loan of 8 billion yuan? We must secure the Imperial Jade Seal?”
“Excellent! Wonderful! Hahaha, the Jade Seal of the Realm will belong to our Jiangnan Museum!”
After all, for a museum, taking out an 8-billion-yuan loan from a bank, even if it were granted, would be a significant risk due to the interest and the need to repay the principal. However, with the interest-free loan from the local Jiangnan government, the Jiangnan Museum dared to make a move on the Jade Seal of the Realm.
Other museums were in similar situations.
“The mayor of Shanghai has granted us a 15 -billion-yuan loan? We must secure the Jade Seal of the Realm?”
“Is it an interest-free loan? If not, our Shanghai Museum cannot accept it!” “Oh? It is interest-free? Excellent, then we will take on this task!”
Regardless of the circumstances, local authorities would undoubtedly want an item like the Jade Seal of the Realm to reside in their own museums. However, they were all mistaken. The Forbidden City had already dispatched its vanguard but had not informed them. When the time came, with a single document, the local authorities and their official museums would have to back off. The Jade Seal of the Realm would belong to the Forbidden City.
“Good morning, everyone!”
“Today, there may be another world-shocking auction!”
“Unfortunately, the auction will not be broadcasted live, so you will have to watch the recorded version.”
After waking up and finishing his morning routine, Luo Feng greeted everyone on his livestream. Li Shishi, Qin Rubing, Su Meiji, and others had already stationed themselves in their suites, eagerly anticipating the auction. “Luo Feng, it seems the mayor of Xianyang wants to meet you!”
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