The confrontation between the two Palace Museums was merely a minor interlude. The Ming dynasty Golden-Lidded Jade Bowl, though Long Jianfei boasted confidently, was ultimately won by Lin Yide of the Jiangnan Museum. It came at no small cost – 1.5 billion yuan to be precise. Long Jianfei had the funds to secure it but felt it was unnecessary, as the real highlights – the dragon robe and the Yongle Encyclopedia – were yet to come and would require substantial reserves. There was no room for extravagance.
Of course, the celebrities sitting in the last row were well aware that a video camera behind them was recording everything happening inside the conference room. Local television had broadcast Luo Feng's treasure discovery live the night before, and an auction was promised the following day.
However, viewers had not seen any indication of an auction taking place, and were growing increasingly impatient.
