Ming Dynasty Tomb

In their eagerness to observe the ancient tomb, the group didn't waste any time after getting out of the car. They were immediately led to the site.

Before arriving, the professors had only received reports from others about the tomb. Initially, they thought it was likely the tomb of a noble from the Ming Dynasty, and after conducting a detailed on-site observation, they further confirmed this assumption.

The tomb had already been partially cleared by an advance team, and they had discovered two stone statues, two stone sheep and tiger sculptures, a stone pillar, and many tomb bricks.

After examining the scattered artifacts and the architectural style of the exposed tomb chamber, Professor Hong, an archaeology expert, spoke up, "This should be the tomb of a noble official from the Ming Dynasty."

"I agree," Professor Wang nodded in confirmation.

"How can you tell it's the tomb of a Ming Dynasty noble official?" Guan Tong, one of the students, asked on behalf of her classmates who weren't as familiar with these matters.

Gu Ming nodded along with the others. She could roughly tell that the tomb's style was from the Ming Dynasty but wasn't sure of the specifics.

Professor Wang turned to face the students and began explaining patiently, "Aside from observing its style, there are also other indicators based on the Ming Dynasty's rituals. After a government official passed away, the scale of their tomb, the layout of the tomb complex, the inscriptions on the tomb path, and the quantity of burial items would all strictly follow the hierarchy of their official rank. For example, if a noble general had passed away and was posthumously titled a king, the tomb would have a pair of stone statues representing civil and military figures, as well as a pair of stone tigers, stone sheep, and stone pillars. From the presence of these two stone statues, a stone tiger, a stone sheep, and a stone pillar, we can deduce that the tomb's occupant was an important official from that time."

"Professor Wang is right, we also believe this is the tomb of a noble official from the Ming Dynasty. I assume you've already seen the preliminary layout of the tomb, but we've just received an updated diagram. You professors can take a look," said Professor Tong, who was leading the recovery efforts in Taiyuan.

The professors nodded and instructed their students to stay aside for a moment before following Professor Tong into a temporary tent.

As soon as the professors left, the students, already curious, couldn't sit still. They stretched their necks to observe the surroundings, and Fu Wen, the male senior, approached the guarded tomb, casually chatting with the security personnel there.

Seeing Fu Wen lead the way, the others followed suit, getting up and heading out to explore, hoping to gather more information.

The students, naturally divided into groups by their respective professors, knew that only Professor Wang was handling the cultural relics authentication, so his three students formed one group.

Earlier, on the bus, Gu Ming had discussed with Fu Wen and Guan Tong that once they arrived, Fu Wen would gather information, while she and Guan Tong would observe the surroundings and keep an eye on everyone else's movements.

"The construction is still ongoing nearby. Aren't they worried about damaging more relics?" Guan Tong shook her head.

Gu Ming smiled slightly. "They don't care about relics. For the developers, every day they pause work costs them a lot of money. They're not going to wait for us to finish before starting again."

"There are so many people around watching. I wonder if they're really just watching or if they have other motives," Guan Tong remarked as she scanned the crowd surrounding the tomb.

"Didn't they say that some people stole items from the tomb when it was first uncovered? I bet most of the people here are just hoping to grab something while the chaos continues. Otherwise, why would there be so many people in this remote mountain area?" Gu Ming lowered her voice.

Guan Tong nodded slightly and didn't continue the topic. She instead started walking around the tomb to examine the surroundings.

The security personnel, knowing that the group was here to investigate and protect the relics, didn't stop them as long as they didn't enter the tomb. They kept an eye on them but didn't intervene.

Gu Ming had already felt uneasy when she heard that the tomb was discovered in a village that was being turned into a resort. Her mood sank even further when she noticed construction signs nearby. A sarcastic smile tugged at her lips.

She realized that the resort project they were building here was likely the one Du Hao had recently invested a lot of energy into. She remembered him mentioning that this project, if successful, would elevate the Du family to a new level.

To make the project happen, Du Hao had even agreed to marry Qiao Qingya.

It seemed that luck wasn't on Du Hao's side. If construction continued in the area around the tomb, they'd likely face delays, and even worse, the design direction might have to change.

Gu Ming couldn't help but feel a little gloating, enjoying the moment, knowing that at least for now, the progress of Du Hao's project would be hindered.

Before long, Fu Wen returned with news. The three of them gathered together.

"The situation with this tomb isn't looking good. I heard the previous team that went in found a tomb robbery hole," Fu Wen said gravely.

"Was it there before or after the tomb was discovered?" Gu Ming asked, probing further.

"Both, I think," Fu Wen replied in a low voice.

Disappointment flickered across Guan Tong's face, and the three of them felt a sense of heaviness.

The professors had come to recover cultural relics, but if they were already stolen by tomb robbers, what would be left for them to do? The practical significance of their visit was diminished.

Another issue was that both the professors and students had come for hands-on experience, but they also hoped for some recognition. If they successfully recovered valuable items, it could benefit their future careers, even leading to national awards or recognition.

As the sun began to set, the professors finally emerged from the tent, and the group, having gone all day without food, began organizing dinner.

Since the village had been mostly demolished, there were no accommodations available. The group was instead staying in temporary tents, separated by gender.

Fortunately, the weather was mild, or the conditions would have been unbearable.

After dinner, Professor Wang called Gu Ming, Fu Wen, and Guan Tong aside.

Fu Wen promptly shared the information they had gathered that afternoon. His recount was very objective, without adding his own opinions, so as not to influence the professor's judgment.

After listening, Professor Wang nodded approvingly, acknowledging the students' efforts. He then said, "You three did well. But do you know why the cultural relics authentication team is here along with the archaeologists?"

"To assess the value of the tomb's items?" Guan Tong asked uncertainly.

Professor Wang smiled without speaking, turning his attention to Gu Ming and Fu Wen.

Fu Wen lowered his head, quickly thinking.

Gu Ming recalled the suspicious individuals she had seen earlier, and an idea crossed her mind. She spoke up, "Is it because they're here to recover the stolen relics?"

Professor Wang gave Gu Ming an appreciative look and lowered his voice. "We're here to assess the tomb, but our main goal is to recover the items that were taken from the tomb."