Chapter 363: All 24 Jade Seals of the Ming Dynasty are here! The Identity of the Tomb Owner is Revealed! (2)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
One would not say they were merely playthings. Rather, it would be more apt to refer to them as minor romances.
The Japanese were not always of the finest quality, yet the girls from that region had an air of tranquility about them. They were obedient when it came to matters of card games, adhering to any style that suited the whims of men.
The current director of the Tokyo Museum, Yamamoto Murao, lacked Luo Feng’s contact information, and thus was unable to get in touch. And it seemed as though Luo Feng was asleep, hence any disturbance was undesirable.
“Alright, no other choice then,” the Director resolved, “I will journey to the Dragon Kingdom. We must secure these treasures of nation, regardless of the cost. Remember, we must procure funding from above!” He was confident that the upper echelons would provide funding for these invaluable artifacts.
Following a late-night meeting with the higher-ups from various museums under his jurisdiction, the Director made his decision. Meanwhile, the United States, the United Kingdom and others received emails from their respective offices within the Dragon Kingdom.
On Luo Feng’s end, he had already clarified that the unearthed artifacts from his private museum were not for sale, dashing the hopes of many. However, they believed the Cherry Blossom nation’s treasures held great significance and that, for the right price, Luo Feng might be willing to sell.
For institutions like the New York Museum and the Louvre, the treasures’ significance was less about national heritage and more about their appeal as artifacts from around the world.
Time passed swiftly, with one night soon giving way to morning. At half past six, Luo Feng awoke. Gu Santong also rose. After a simple breakfast, Luo Feng began his livestream and then set out for the tomb.
With a creak, the door swung open, revealing a nine-tiered staircase and two doors beyond. The grand entrance was adorned with a golden plaque inscribed with the words ‘Hall of Supreme Harmony.’ A twitch at the corner of Luo Feng’s eye signified his surprise at such an unexpected sight at the crack of dawn.
The layout of this room was assuredly distinct from the others. An unexpected delight awaited them for sure.
“Is this modeled after the Ming Dynasty’s Hall of Supreme Harmony?” “The place where the emperor held court!”
“That’s right,” Luo Feng nodded. The door gave way to an area of around five hundred square meters, a sight overwhelming in its grandeur. It was clear that the tomb’s inhabitant was once a person of immense power and influence. The extravagant interior was a clear testament to a man who sought to play emperor even in death.
“Curses! This single room is far larger than my entire house!” one exclaimed.
“Truly a series of unfortunate events!” another remarked.
“I truly wish that in death, I could reside in such a vast space!”
Soon enough, everyone proceeded further into the hall. The interior of the Hall of Supreme Harmony was a sight to behold. At the center of the grand hall sat a dark gold dragon throne. It may not have been the true dragon throne, but it was an immaculate reproduction.
“Let’s move on!”
They soon left the Hall of Supreme Harmony behind and entered the next room. To their astonishment, it was the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Luo Feng could not help but laugh, “How much did the tomb owner wish to play emperor? He even constructed a personal chamber!”
The Palace of Heavenly Purity held different significance in the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the Ming era, it served as the emperor’s living quarters, while in the Qing era, it was repurposed as a venue for holding court.
Upon entering, Luo Feng saw several desks scattered about, each holding wooden boxes. Behind a screen was a reproduction of a dragon couch. Luo Feng picked up a box from one of the desks and opened it to reveal a thirty-centimeter engraved jade seal featuring a dragon. “Is this a jade seal?” Gu Santong queried in amazement. “How did they create this?”
Luo Feng remained silent, examining the jade seal before responding, “This must be a royal treasure, used to issue imperial edicts.” As he spoke, Luo Feng opened the remaining boxes, revealing a series of jade seals. He arranged them in a row, totaling seventeen seals.
“Good heavens! Why are there so many of them?” one of the second-generation heirs exclaimed in shock, while another voiced, “Could this be the twenty-four seals of the Ming Dynasty? And there are seventeen here?”
Their speculation ran rampant, with theories ranging from this being an emperor’s mausoleum to questioning the improbability of an emperor using his seals as burial items.
Not only were the novices confused, but even Gu Santong, an old hand, was puzzled. His understanding of the Ming Dynasty’s system was crumbling. With all the jade seals here, what did the emperor use for administrative work?
“Little Luo, this cannot be, can it?” Gu Santong queried.
With a chuckle, Luo Feng replied, “Master Gu, these are all replicas.” “Replicas?” Gu Santong echoed, befuddled.
“Yes, indeed. Otherwise, do you think it’s possible for so many of them to be gathered here?” Luo Feng elaborated, “It’s apparent that the tomb owner had these seals crafted. They were carved from quality jade by skilled artisans. However, these seals are identical to the jade seal of Li Zicheng I dug up previously. Therefore, it seems the tomb owner saw the Ming Dynasty jade seals and decided to create replicas..”
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