RMWDS -Chapter 277 Bronze Turtle Paperweight

Miao Yunyou didn’t understand and tilted her head in confusion.

“A burial object? What’s the difference? Isn’t it just a bronze weight for pressing papers?”

Wen Xiuning lowered her voice and lightly tapped the bronze turtle image in the catalogue with her fingertip.

“Paperweights like this were usually used after the death of famous scholars and officials. Burial paperweights often contain mechanisms. For example, in this kind, craftsmen would leave a hidden compartment inside the turtle’s belly to store the deceased’s most treasured possessions.”

“If grave robbers who didn’t know better came across it, they would usually only take gold, silver, and jade. They would think it’s just an ordinary paperweight and leave it behind.”

This kind of information was considered a closely guarded secret among aristocratic families in ancient times. Ordinary people would never know it.

Wen Xiuning came from a family of embroidery artisans who had once produced burial embroidery for high-ranking officials, so she naturally learned these details through exposure over time.

Miao Yunyou’s eyes instantly lit up. She straightened up at once, leaning closer to Wen Xiuning and lowering her voice despite her excitement.

“A hidden compartment? There’s treasure inside? How do you open it? Surely you can’t just smash it, right?”

Wen Xiuning shook her head gently, a faint smile on her lips.

“No need to break it. The mechanism is in the turtle’s head. It looks fixed in place, but it’s actually movable.

If you grip it and pull upward with enough force, the hidden compartment in the belly will automatically pop open. The design is meant to prevent outsiders from figuring it out—those who don’t understand would assume it’s solid and never find the mechanism.”

Luo Xinglan said, “There are such tricks?”

Ling Nianci clapped softly. “My mom is amazing—she knows everything!”

Ling Yunxiao, following his daughter, also looked full of pride.

Miao Yunyou rubbed her hands together, her eyes gleaming with excitement and mischief.

As expected, those foreigners in the Hawkins family knew nothing about Chinese antiques. They probably treated it as nothing more than a worthless piece of old bronze and had no idea there was something hidden inside.

Moreover, judging from the historical context, this antique had originally been a Chinese cultural relic that had been lost overseas—stolen during earlier invasions, passed around abroad for over a century, and eventually ended up in the Hawkins family’s possession.

In every sense, it should rightfully be returned to its homeland.

Meanwhile, the bidding had slowly climbed to 1.35 million. The bronze turtle looked too plain—no intricate carvings, no famous provenance—so very few people were interested. Those who did bid only increased by fifty thousand or so at a time. The scene lacked the intensity of earlier auctions.

Just as the auctioneer was about to bring the hammer down—

“Two million!”

Miao Yunyou suddenly raised her bidding paddle high. Her arm nearly reached over the people in front, and her voice rang clearly across the entire hall.

Everyone was visibly surprised that such a young woman would suddenly raise the price so aggressively.

Some who had watched the earlier martial arts competition immediately understood what was going on. They knew about the conflict between Miao Yunyou and Hawkins—some thought she was deliberately raising the price to embarrass him, others believed she was using the charity auction to make a statement.

There were also those who were wary of the so-called “mysterious family” behind her.

In any case, no one wanted to get involved. One by one, they lowered their bidding paddles.

Even the auctioneer paused for a moment before reacting, then loudly repeated:

“Two million! This lady bids two million! Any higher offers?”

Silence fell over the hall. No one else raised a bid.

“Two million once! Two million twice! Two million three times—sold!”

With the heavy strike of the gavel, Miao Yunyou secured the bronze turtle paperweight for two million.

Even Hawkins himself found it strange. He turned back with a puzzled expression, frowning as he muttered to his interpreter from time to time, seemingly trying to figure out what she was doing. After thinking for a while without any conclusion, he could only assume she was a foolish rich person wasting money.

The payment was processed immediately, and staff soon delivered the dust-proof display box containing the bronze turtle into Miao Yunyou’s hands.

The people around them looked over with curiosity, their expressions filled with confusion and a sense of watching a spectacle. They couldn’t understand why she would spend 2 million on a piece of plain bronze.

Miao Yunyou didn’t care at all about their opinions. She held the bronze turtle in her hands, turning it left and right, the more she looked at it, the more interesting it became.

Then she handed it to Luo Xinglan.

“Alright, time to show your real skills!”

“Alright.” Luo Xinglan took the bronze turtle paperweight. With a slight motion, he pulled the turtle’s head upward—

“Ah!”

Someone nearby couldn’t help but gasp.

Everyone assumed that after seeing the physical item, Miao Yunyou thought it wasn’t worth the price and had lost control of her emotions.

So she told Luo Xinglan to rip off the turtle’s head and destroy the 2-million-piece antique on the spot.

Even Hawkins in the front row couldn’t help but let out a mocking laugh. He crossed his arms and waited to see her make a fool of herself, already thinking of how to ridicule her later.

But the expected cracking sound never came.

Instead, there was a crisp “click”—the sound of a mechanism activating.

In that instant, a vivid, fiery crimson light spilled out from the opened hidden compartment, instantly illuminating the surrounding area.

Everyone present: “??????”

The entire hall fell completely silent.

The guests who had just been whispering moments ago all froze as if someone had pressed pause. Mouths open, eyes wide, they stared at the bronze turtle in Luo Xinglan’s hands, disbelief written all over their faces.

Inside the hidden compartment lay a perfectly cut pigeon-blood red gemstone.

It was crystal-clear and flawless, with a rich, even color and not a single impurity. Under the indoor lighting, it shimmered brilliantly, exuding an air of extreme luxury. The gem was mounted on a minimalist gilded base, clearly a treasure once reserved for imperial use.

A red gemstone of this quality, preserved for hundreds of years—how could it possibly be worth only 2 million?!

The hall fell silent for two seconds—then erupted completely.

Everyone stood up and leaned forward, stretching their necks to get a better look at the ruby.

Collectors in the front row were staring so hard their eyes almost popped out. They were filled with regret so intense they were practically slapping their own thighs. If they had known such a treasure was hidden inside, they wouldn’t just have bid 2 million—even 20 million would have been worth it!

This wasn’t a bargain—it was a gold mine!

Even Miao Yunyou herself let out a soft “wow,” her eyes sparkling. This ruby was enormous—larger than the one Hua Ying once brought out of the imperial palace.

In the front row, Hawkins froze completely in his seat, his mind going blank. He stared fixedly at the dazzling red gemstone, his eyes nearly bulging out.

After several seconds, he finally reacted, and a wave of rage shot from his feet to his head.

How could this be?!

He had personally selected this item from his family’s collection vault. He had assumed it was just an ordinary antique—but it actually contained such a mechanism, and such a high-grade ruby?!

A Northern Song pigeon-blood ruby of this caliber—if taken to Sotheby’s or Christie’s—would easily fetch at least 80 million. It could even break 100 million!!!