"Two million four hundred thousand," Ye Yun countered.
"Three hundred..." Li Zhaohui instinctively wanted to raise the price, but Elder Fang beside him quickly stopped him.
Li Zhaohui looked over and saw the elder shaking his head. He was instantly startled and cursed inwardly.
What a cunning bastard!
A sandalwood box worth four hundred thousand, and he directly drove the price up to two million four hundred thousand?
If I bought it, wouldn't I be a complete sucker?
Delusional!
Don't let this kid fool you with his ignorant act. If I bid three million, this guy would probably cower.
After some thought, Li Zhaohui sneered.
"Two million four hundred thousand for a damn box, a fool is a fool!"
With that parting shot, he gave up the competition.
With Li Zhaohui out, naturally, no one else would compete with Ye Yun.
"Young Master Lin, I'm afraid you'll be losing quite a bit this time."
As Ye Yun successfully bid for the sandalwood box, Li Zhaohui mocked.
"Five million, dare you bet?" Lin Shiyou said confidently seeing Ye Yun win.
"Damn it, are you an idiot! I don't believe this auction can be rigged twice! If this thing is really worth more than 2.4 million, I'll lose 5 million to you, and if not, you lose 5 million to me!" Li Zhaohui was unfazed.
With Elder Fang's discerning eyes confirming it.
If Ye Yun managed to pull off another fluke, he'd be the laughingstock of the century!
"I'll see how you cry later!" Lin Shiyou said fiercely.
Seeing the two young masters go head-to-head, everyone found it bizarre.
Damn, just because they have money doesn't mean they have to play like this!
A battle of eyesight?
Are you two second-generation rich kids even capable of that?
Betting this much on luck is simply madness!
Of course, many still felt this kind of behavior was perfectly normal for Lin Shiyou.
Lin Shiyou, the village idiot from a wealthy family!
As the outer circle of the bet between the two young masters took shape, the host on stage swallowed and asked Ye Yun.
"Sir, would you like to examine the antique now?"
"Now," Ye Yun replied.
"Alright!"
After receiving the sandalwood box, Ye Yun smiled and said to the staff.
"Lend me the knife you used earlier."
Although they didn't know what Ye Yun wanted the knife for, the staff complied obediently.
After all, Ye Yun had already bought the box, so he could do as he pleased with it.
However, they still held a strong sense of disbelief.
What?
He found a painting within a painting earlier, does he think there's a box within a box this time?
Placing the box carefully on the ground, Ye Yun gently ran the knife along the outer layer of the box.
"Everyone, look, what is this idiot doing? He got lucky with a painting within a painting earlier, does he think there'll be a box within a box this time?"
"Impossible!"
"What a waste of treasure, what a waste!"
"This is a treasure from the mansion of Prince Rong, the fourth son of Emperor Shunzhi. If there are any marks on it, its value will be greatly reduced!"
Ye Yun's actions immediately drew gasps from the surroundings.
Li Zhaohui's reaction was the most intense.
The remaining were the collectors who cherished antiques.
However, Ye Yun remained indifferent to the outside commotion. As a graduate of a medical university, his finger dexterity was beyond imagination.
He quickly detected a nearly invisible seam on the outer layer of the box.
*Crack!*
Ye Yun drove the knife fiercely into the seam and then pried it upwards with a sudden force!
*Clatter.*
The once precious sandalwood box immediately shattered, wood chips scattering across the floor.
"This..."
"What is this thing!"
"Why is there a piece of jade inside?"
In an instant, a crowd gathered around, their faces contorted with shock!
A universe within!
Most of the people present were connoisseurs. Just by looking at the flawless white jade, they knew it was priceless!
Moreover, it was obvious to even a fool now.
The sandalwood box's purpose was merely to protect this jade!
If the sandalwood box was worth 400,000, how much would this jade be worth?
"How is this possible!!"
The most shocked was the host on stage.
This sandalwood box had been in their auction house for nearly two years.
Yet, they had never discovered that it contained a hidden piece of jade!
First, he found a painting within a painting in the "Bottle Plum Blossom Painting," and now he's found a jade pendant from a sandalwood box.
Does this guy have X-ray vision?
"Mr. Ye, Ye, what, what's going on!!" At this moment, even Lin Shiyou's speech began to stammer.
"Prince Rong was the son of Emperor Shunzhi and Consort Donggo. Upon his birth, Emperor Shunzhi was overjoyed. He proclaimed it to Heaven, received congratulations from his officials, and even granted a general amnesty. Everyone knows how much Emperor Shunzhi doted on his fourth son."
"Who knew that Prince Rong would die tragically within three months of his birth? Emperor Shunzhi was heartbroken and built the Prince Rong Mansion for him, placing a large number of treasures within."
"There's a popular saying that Emperor Shunzhi and Consort Donggo fell in love at first sight, and he even gifted her the Aisin Gioro family's heirloom treasure as a token of their love. I once read in a historical unofficial account that after the son's death, Consort Donggo intended to bury this jade pendant with him."
"However, this was a jade pendant personally bestowed by Emperor Shunzhi. If it were buried with him, even though he was deeply fond of him, it might lead to a death sentence. Back then, Consort Donggo found skilled craftsmen and had them create such a sandalwood box. This was to prevent anyone from accidentally breaking the box and revealing the jade pendant inside."
"After Consort Donggo's death, Emperor Shunzhi abdicated to Kangxi and retreated to Mount Wutai heartbroken. Emperor Kangxi searched the entire empire for this jade pendant but could not find it. Therefore, when you mentioned earlier that the sandalwood box came from Prince Rong's Mansion, I guessed it might be the rumored one. Fortunately, my guess was correct."
Ye Yun explained with a smile.
In fact, it was precisely because of this jade pendant that this auction was talked about by countless people.
The origin of the jade pendant was also unearthed by enthusiastic netizens.
As for Ye Yun, he merely spoke it out.
However, upon hearing Ye Yun's explanation, the scene fell into a dead silence.
The next moment, exclamations erupted!
"The Aisin Gioro family's heirloom treasure? My God!"
"Damn! Emperor Kangxi searched the empire and couldn't find it? I want this thing!"
"You want it? How can you claim the token of love between Shunzhi and Consort Donggo?"
Amidst the gasps of everyone.
Li Zhaohui's teacup shattered.
Lin Shiyou and Wang Hailin's eyes widened like those of oxen.
First, he discerned the painting within a painting in Zheng Banqiao's work.
Now, he's uncovered an heirloom of the Aisin Gioro family.
Are you still claiming you're not a god?
"Ten million, I'll take it! Sir, sell this treasure to me!"
Before Ye Yun could react, someone next to him shouted.
"Damn it, you think ten million is enough? I'll offer thirty million!"
"Fifty million!!"
When the price of fifty million was finally uttered, the audience hesitated.
"Sixty million, a single bid. Whoever can match it can take it."
Ye Yun was too lazy to haggle and said indifferently.
"I'll take it!!"
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a middle-aged man stepped forward, examined the jade pendant closely, and said.
"Good jade! Such fine jade! It is indeed top-grade mutton-fat jade! Good, I'll take this jade for 60 million."
Two million four hundred thousand, yielding sixty million!
The entire auction hall was eerily silent.
Especially Li Zhaohui, he was so angry he felt pain all over!