Luo Keke took a deep breath and slowly opened the first camphorwood chest.
Inside, a dazzling golden light greeted her. Several pure-gold necklaces were neatly arranged, their delicate chains reflecting an alluring glow under the dim lights of the secret chamber.
Beside them lay two pairs of imperial-green jade bangles. Their rich, vibrant green seemed to embody the purest vitality in the world. The jade was smooth and lustrous, exuding an air of elegance and nobility.
Next to them were two emerald rings. The gemstones possessed a deep green hue reminiscent of a secluded pool, and their exquisite settings were a testament to their luxurious craftsmanship.
There were also two strands of South Sea pearl necklaces. Each pearl was large and perfectly rounded, glowing with a soft radiance like moonlight scattered across the night.
Inside a velvet box nearby were four pairs of two-carat pear-shaped diamond earrings. The flawlessly cut diamonds sparkled brilliantly, like clusters of cold flames that dazzled the eyes.
There was also one men’s and one women’s Swiss gold watch. The metallic sheen of the cases complemented the exquisite watch faces, showcasing extraordinary craftsmanship.
At the bottom of the chest, pearls and agates were piled high, some smooth and rounded, others beautifully variegated, each radiating its own captivating charm.
Luo Keke couldn’t help clicking her tongue in amazement. Before she had even recovered from the shock of the first chest, she eagerly opened the second camphorwood chest.
The contents once again left her speechless.
Two sets of phoenix crowns and bridal ornaments immediately caught her eye. The phoenix crowns were meticulously woven from gold threads, with lifelike phoenixes that seemed ready to spread their wings and soar. The crowns were inlaid with rubies, sapphires, and various other gemstones, creating a dazzling array of colors.
The bridal ornaments came in various designs, each adorned with exquisite tassels that complemented the phoenix crowns perfectly. Beside them were two sets of dian cui hair ornaments, their brilliant emerald-colored kingfisher feathers still as vibrant as ever, resembling rippling jade-green waters.
There were dian cui hairpins, pearl floral hairpins, and filigree gemstone hairpins, each one exquisitely crafted. The kingfisher feathers on the dian cui hairpins blended perfectly with gold and silver, forming lifelike designs of flowers and animals.
The pearl floral hairpins were decorated with pearls arranged into various patterns, exuding a gentle and graceful charm. The filigree gemstone hairpins combined delicate filigree work with gemstone settings, making them extraordinarily magnificent.
There were also ruyi hairpins and tassel hairpins. The ruyi hairpins symbolized good fortune, while the tassel hairpins swayed gracefully with every movement.
Jade earrings, gold-and-pearl earrings, and enamel earrings competed in brilliance. The jade earrings were fresh and vibrant green, the gold-and-pearl earrings exuded wealth and splendor, while the enamel earrings were dazzlingly colorful. Every pair had been crafted with extraordinary ingenuity.
Although Luo Keke was the president of the Luo family in the twentieth century and had seen countless treasures, even she was rendered speechless by the priceless treasures before her.
She couldn’t help wondering inwardly: Was Grandpa planning to make sure she could live in luxury for two lifetimes after getting married?
After calming herself down, Luo Keke proceeded to open the third camphorwood chest.
This time, it was filled with an astonishing collection of antiques.
A Chenghua-era Doucai Chicken Cup was small and exquisite. Painted across its surface was a lively scene of a rooster crowing, a hen searching for food, and chicks pecking at grains. Its vivid colors and delicate composition perfectly captured the distinctive charm of Ming Dynasty porcelain.
There was also a Hetian jade seed carving of an auspicious beast. The jade was fine and oily to the touch, while the beast itself was rounded and full-bodied, with smooth lines and exquisite carving, as though it might leap from her palm at any moment.
Even more exquisite was a rhinoceros-horn carving of a landscape and figures. Crafted from rhinoceros horn, it depicted a richly layered scene of mountains, rivers, and people. The delicate carving techniques vividly conveyed the refined artistic spirit of scholars and literati.
Suppressing her excitement, Luo Keke opened the fourth, fifth, and sixth chests one after another.
These chests were filled to the brim with rare ancient books and famous paintings.
There was a copy of Tang Yin’s Autumn Fan from the Ming Dynasty, depicting a woman holding a round silk fan with a melancholy expression. The delicate, flowing lines vividly showcased Tang Yin’s distinctive artistic style.
There was also Zheng Xie’s Ink Bamboo from the Qing Dynasty. The bamboo stood tall and resilient, its branches and leaves arranged with perfect balance, while the varying shades of ink conveyed the integrity and spirit of a true scholar.
There were countless other works of calligraphy and paintings by renowned masters, every single one of them worth a fortune.
Luo Keke knew very well that in later generations, every one of these objects would be regarded as a priceless national treasure.
A determined look flashed through her eyes. With a wave of her hand, she collected every precious item into her space.
After storing all the priceless treasures, Luo Keke calmly walked out of the secret chamber.
She raised her hand and gently pressed the button. A faint mechanical sound followed, and the wardrobe quickly slid back into place, completely concealing the entrance to the secret chamber. The room instantly returned to its original appearance, as though nothing had ever happened.
Luo Keke glanced down at her wristwatch. The hour hand had just reached six o’clock.
Looking out the window, she saw that the sky was already beginning to darken as night slowly descended.
She took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and carried the room key card to the reception desk.
With an apologetic expression, she softly said to the receptionist, “Comrade, I’m terribly sorry. I suddenly remembered that there’s an urgent matter at home that I need to deal with immediately, so I won’t be staying here tonight. I’ll still pay for the room, though. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
The receptionist smiled and waved her hand. “It’s fine, Comrade. If there’s something going on at home, you should hurry back and take care of it. Since you’ve already paid for the room, we can’t charge you twice. Don’t worry and go ahead. Come back again if you have the chance.”
Luo Keke secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t expected everything to go so smoothly.
After sincerely thanking the receptionist, she turned around and hurried out of the hotel, heading straight for the bus stop.
Before long, the bus heading toward the old Luo family villa slowly arrived.
Luo Keke boarded the bus. By the time she returned to the Luo family villa, it was already seven o’clock.
The villa’s front gate was tightly shut, but fortunately, she had come prepared and had brought the spare key with her.
She gently inserted the key, opened the villa door, stepped into the courtyard, and then entered the living room.
The lights in the living room were still on, yet there was no one inside. Even Aunt Wang, who was usually busy around the house, was nowhere to be seen.
Just as Luo Keke assumed that her scumbag father and his family had already returned to their hometown in Suzhou, she faintly heard Zhou Wangzheng and Shen Biyun talking upstairs in the master bedroom.
Luo Keke deliberately lightened her footsteps and quietly went upstairs, approaching the master bedroom.
“That wretched girl hasn’t come back even at this hour. Could she have gone to Old Man Zhao or Old Man Zhang to complain about us?” Shen Biyun’s voice carried a hint of worry and suspicion.
“She wouldn’t. With that little bit of courage she has, she couldn’t possibly stir up any trouble,” Zhou Wangzheng said confidently.
“Wangzheng, do you really have to go to Suzhou to see that ungrateful son? Didn’t you say you hated him so much that you wished he were dead?” Shen Biyun continued.
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about? I was already planning to return to my hometown this time. Seeing him is merely something I’ll do while I’m there. Besides, no matter what, he’s still my biological son.”
His voice suddenly grew angrier.
“And speaking of which, back then, when I asked you to secretly take him away, I only wanted to have someone else raise him. Who would’ve thought you’d be such a vicious woman and actually poison him until he became mute? I haven’t even settled that score with you yet!”
“Wangzheng, I only did it for your sake,” Shen Biyun said aggrievedly. “Without him, wouldn’t the entire Luo family’s fortune belong to you? Besides, it’s not as though you don’t have sons. Aren’t Zixuan and Shuyi both your sons? And isn’t Shiyao your daughter too? All these years, I stayed unmarried just waiting for you…”