Chapter 229: Chapter 175: We Will Deal with It According to the Law! (5000-Word Chapter)
Seven Stars Lu King Palace.
Inside the tomb chamber, originally a dark and profound space, was now brightly illuminated. One could see the lofty stone pillars supporting the dome, carved with simple patterns and text.
In the middle, seven stone coffins lay quietly, arranged in the pattern of the Big Dipper.
A group of archaeologists and Cultural Relics Bureau staff circled the stone coffins, their eyes gleaming.
The police were handling a crime scene.
Without a doubt, the seven stone coffins in the tomb chamber were its most valuable assets.
Some archaeologists were eager to open the stone coffins to see what cultural relics were inside.
But their cautious habits held them back from acting on this impulse.
At that moment, Qin Sisi could only temporarily push Lin Chuan out of her mind and focus on the stone coffins before her.
Looking at Captain Yao, the leader of the Archaeological Team, she spoke, "Captain Yao, the tomb owner's identity is no simple matter. Judging from the decoy tomb he set up at the False Dragon Head, it's clear he was a person of schemes, someone deeply calculating. Now with these seven stone coffins, could there possibly be traps within them?"
Qin Sisi did not elaborate.
She vividly remembered the "Touch Gold Notes," which like now, showed seven coffins arranged in the positions of the Big Dipper, contaning some strange items.
Rice dumplings?
Or mechanisms?
As for their existence in reality, she could not be sure.
When she read that part of the notes, her heart felt unsettled, and thus the memory was deeply etched in her mind.
Out of the seven stone coffins, six were false.
Only one was real.
"Mechanisms?"
Old Yao's brows tightened slightly before he nodded, "Indeed, we do need to be careful when opening the coffins. These seven are somewhat peculiar and necessitate the utmost caution."
Qin Sisi nodded.
Her gaze fell upon the stone coffins, each intricately carved with dense text and patterns.
Eventually, her eyes settled on one of them.
In the "Touch Gold Notes," if one were to check their bearings, it would be the real coffin.
The rest were fakes.
"Captain Yao, only this coffin can be opened, the others must not be touched!" Qin Sisi reported earnestly.
Listening to Qin Sisi's certain tone, Old Yao looked at her intently.
Soon after.
Old Yao called over several skilled workers, "Open only this coffin, leave the rest untouched!"
"Captain Yao, why is that?"
Professor Qi, standing not far away, heard Old Yao's orders and asked in bewilderment.
After a moment of thought, Old Yao just shook his head, "The other coffins, they contain mechanisms."
After saying this, he glanced again at Qin Sisi.
Qin Sisi's eyes flickered evasively, unsure of how to respond.
Her heart was in conflict, leaving her completely at a loss for what to do.
At this time.
A few archaeologists gathered together, first using professional detection equipment to scan the designated coffin, ensuring there were no issues, then they began the process of opening it.
The work of opening the stone coffin was done with great care.
Old Yao personally took up the task, wielding a pry bar, he gently hammered at the junction between the coffin's lid and body, producing a 'ding, ding, ding' sound.
The hammering was evenly done, trying to avoid damaging the structural integrity of the stone coffin as much as possible.
This showcased Old Yao's experience and expertise as the team leader.
After more than ten minutes.
A gap formed between the lid and the body of the stone coffin, and they became separated.
Old Yao and Professor Qi looked at each other and smiled.
Qin Sisi pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on the stone coffin.
Clack, clack, clack.
As four archaeologists lifted the coffin lid, the contents within were revealed.
Qin Sisi breathed a sigh of relief.
Phew—
Thankfully, there were neither mechanisms nor rice dumplings.
Inside the stone coffin were numerous burial items made of bronze, such as pitchers, bowls, stoves, and small tripods.
The Archaeological Team and staff from the Cultural Relics Bureau immediately began to inventory the relics.
Standing to the side, Professor Qi's brow was deeply furrowed.
His face did not show the expected delight, but was filled with puzzlement.
"Captain Yao, don't you find this odd?" Professor Qi thought for a moment before turning to Old Yao beside him.
Old Yao's gaze remained on the interior of the coffin, his expression equally puzzled.
He nodded in agreement, "It is indeed very strange."
This was the main chamber.
Yet, out of the Seven Stars Coffin, this one contained only items like pitchers, bowls, stoves, and small bronze tripods for burial.
What about the tomb owner?
"Could they be in the other six stone coffins?" Professor Qi speculated.
Old Yao shook his head, then approached Qin Sisi, "Qin, a word, please."
Qin Sisi's expression changed slightly as she followed Old Yao to the side.
Going straight to the point, Old Yao asked in a low voice, "Qin, you seem to be quite familiar with this area."
From the start at the False Dragon Head Gourd Mouth, the team's movements, whether circumventing Gourd Mouth or climbing up to observe the Dragon Head, had all followed Qin Sisi's guidance.
If Old Yao had not realized that Qin Sisi's guidance was far from coincidental, he wouldn't have deserved to be the team leader.
Qin Sisi furrowed her brow, her face showing distress as she replied in a low voice, "Captain Yao, if I told you I've come across a record of this tomb elsewhere, would you believe me?"
"Hmm?"
At this moment, Old Yao's brow creased into a 'Chuan', his face betraying an expression of disbelief, "You've seen records similar to this tomb, where?"
"In a novel."
Qin Sisi bit her pale lips before finally divulging those words.
The details here compared with Lin Chuan's novel, it's not just similar, they're exactly the same!
Apart from the lack of peculiar oddities, everything else was spot on.