Brother, just how powerful is our family?

On both sides of the spirit path of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, ancient pines and cypresses stand solemnly, and stone statues stand silently guarding.

The warm spring sun shines through the branches and leaves, casting dappled light and shadow, giving this 600-year-old sacred path a sense of time.

As the Qin family entered the mausoleum area, they attracted countless gazes.

It's not because of the pomp and circumstance; visitors to the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum are well-traveled and knowledgeable.

Instead, it was the exquisite and beautiful Ming Dynasty costumes that perfectly complemented the mausoleum where the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty was buried, as if time and space were overlapping at this moment.

"My God, is this a film set?"

"No, look at the demeanor of those people..."

"That guy in the flying fish robe, isn't that Qin Feng?"

"Qin Yao! It's Qin Yao!"

Someone recognized her. After all, Qin Yao has a following of 100 million, making her highly recognizable.

Soon, tourists gathered around, taking photos with their phones.

Qin Yao smiled and nodded to everyone, but did not stop walking.

Ten guards in Jinyiwei uniforms tacitly parted the crowd, clearing a path for the Qin family.

At the end of the sacred path, the ancestral hall stands majestically.

Inside the hall, a newly replaced portrait of Zhu Yuanzhang hangs prominently in the center.

The Hongwu Emperor in the painting wears a winged crown and a twelve-symbol imperial robe, with a majestic face and piercing eyes—that is the true countenance of an emperor, sweeping away the shadows of past distorted images.

Qin Jianguo stood before the portrait, his expression solemn.

This former convenience store owner, after undergoing genetic optimization, now stands tall and straight like a pine tree. Dressed in the attire of a Ming Dynasty scholar, he exudes the air of a great Confucian scholar.

"Kneel down," he said softly.

Qin Feng, Qin Yang, Qin Yao, and Qin's mother knelt on the prayer mat as instructed.

Behind him, ten guards knelt on one knee—this was the etiquette for the Imperial Guards when they met the emperor.

Qin Jianguo burned incense, and the fragrance of three sticks of incense rose gently into the hall.

He held the incense sticks in both hands, raised them above his head, and then bowed deeply.

"His Majesty the Hongwu Emperor, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty," his voice was not loud, but clear and steady, "and his descendants, the Qin family, have come to pay their respects with their wives and children."

"Six hundred years ago, Your Majesty drove out the barbarians, restored China, and established the Ming Dynasty, which lasted for three hundred years. Although the country has undergone many changes and the dynasty has changed hands, Your Majesty's achievements will be forever recorded in history; Your Majesty's spirit will forever inspire future generations."

"Our Qin family has been fortunate to have the opportunities of this era and has achieved some success. We dare not forget our roots and ancestors. We have come here before the mausoleum to offer this humble wine and fruit as a token of our respect."

"May His Majesty's spirit live on forever, protecting China, ensuring peace and prosperity, and preserving our cultural heritage."

After saying this, he inserted the incense sticks into the incense burner. Qin Feng and the others then kowtowed three times.

The hall was completely silent. Even the onlookers quieted down, moved by the solemnity of the ceremony.

After the worship ceremony, Qin Yao restarted her live stream.

"My darlings, we're now in the sacrificial hall of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum." She pointed the camera at the portrait of Zhu Yuanzhang. "Look, everyone, this is the newly replaced portrait of the Hongwu Emperor. Isn't it majestic and imposing?"

Millions of people flooded into the live stream instantly:

"I finally saw it! It's even more stunning than the photos online!"

"This is the real Zhu Yuanzhang!"

"The sun, moon, mountains, and rivers will live on forever; the Ming Dynasty will live on forever!"

"The Qin family is so thoughtful, wearing traditional Ming Dynasty clothing to pay their respects."

Qin Yao turned the camera to show the interior of the ancestral hall: "This is where the spirit tablet of Emperor Hongwu is located. We just held a simple worship ceremony."

Someone in the live chat asked, "Yaoyao, what did it feel like during the memorial service?"

Qin Yao thought for a moment and answered seriously, "It's a wonderful feeling. Standing here, thinking about how this emperor, who rose from beggar to become emperor six hundred years ago, drove out the Yuan Dynasty, and restored the Han Dynasty, you can feel the weight of history and a sense of inheritance."

As they were talking, a group of tourists gathered around.

"Yaoyao! Can we take a picture together?"

"Mr. Qin! I'm a fan of yours!"

"These Imperial Guards are so handsome! Can we take a picture together?"

Qin Yao smiled and agreed. She had an outgoing personality and never refused anyone.

The most popular were the guards. Ten "cool-faced handsome men" over 1.8 meters tall, dressed in Jinyiwei uniforms, became the popular backdrop for group photos.

One tourist had a sudden inspiration and stood among the guards, pretending to be "arrested by the Imperial Guards".

His companion took a picture and posted it online with the caption: "I was arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard at Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. What crime did I commit? Probably because I was too handsome."

This photo quickly went viral online. Netizens started making memes about it:

"The Imperial Guards are handling a case; bystanders, please give way!"

"With this lineup, they must have captured at least a ministerial-level official."

"I'm so envious! I want to take a picture with the Imperial Guards too!"

"Am I the only one who noticed that these Imperial Guards guys all have great physiques?"

Qin Yao's live stream continued. She took her fans on a tour of various corners of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, explaining its history and sharing her feelings.

She stopped before reaching the top of the tomb: "This is above the underground palace where Emperor Hongwu and Empress Ma are buried together. It is said that the underground palace has never been robbed and is well preserved. This is very rare among the imperial tombs of Chinese dynasties."

"Why wasn't it stolen?" a fan asked.

"There are many theories," Qin Yao said. "Some say it was due to the ingenious design, some say it was due to the tight security, and some say it was because... the lingering power of the Hongwu Emperor still kept the tomb raiders at bay."

One commenter joked, "Could it be that Zhu Yuanzhang left the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the underground palace?"

"The Imperial Guards, ghost soldiers, guarding the tomb?"

"You're not getting over this joke, are you!"

"Who would dare to rob the tomb of the Hongwu Emperor? Aren't they afraid of being condemned behind their backs?"

Amidst laughter and cheers, Qin Yao ended her live stream of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.

Over the next three days, the Qin family visited various tourist attractions in South Korea.

At Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Confucius Temple, Qinhuai River, Presidential Palace... wherever they went, they wore Ming Dynasty costumes, becoming a unique sight.

At Confucius Temple, Qin Yao livestreamed her tasting of Nanjing snacks to her fans: duck blood soup with vermicelli, salted duck, soup dumplings, plum blossom cake...

"This duck blood and vermicelli soup is so delicious! The soup is flavorful, the vermicelli is smooth, and the duck blood is tender. Truly, the best food is found in the most humble places."

On the Qinhuai River, they cruised on a painted boat at night. Amidst the sounds of oars and the flickering lights, Qin Yao softly recited Du Mu's poem "Mooring at Qinhuai": "Mist shrouds the cold water, moonlight veils the sand, moored at Qinhuai near a wine shop. The courtesans, oblivious to the sorrow of a fallen nation, still sing 'The Flowers of the Rear Courtyard' across the river."

At the Presidential Palace, they visited the exhibition on modern history. Standing in front of the statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Qin Feng remained silent for a long time.

"From Zhu Yuanzhang to Sun Yat-sen, from the imperial system to the republic," he whispered to his younger siblings, "this land beneath our feet has witnessed too many changes and too many struggles. As those who come after us, we must remember all of this, and then... create a better future."

Three days passed in a flash.

On their last night in Nanjing, the Qin family dined at the hotel's rooftop restaurant. Outside the window, the night view of Nanjing was dazzling.

Qin Yang, unusually serious, said, "I used to think that history was something in textbooks, something far removed from me. But these past few days, walking through those historical sites, wearing the clothes of the ancients, I suddenly felt... history came alive. Those ancient people are no longer just cold, lifeless names; they really existed, they struggled, they loved and hated."

Qin Feng concluded by saying, "Remember this feeling. Remember our identification with and love for this land and this culture. This is our root, our soul. No matter how far we go in the future, we must never forget it."

Six hundred years ago, Zhu Yuanzhang established his capital here and founded the Ming Dynasty.

Today, they are here, dressed in Ming Dynasty clothing, paying homage to the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, and contemplating the past, present, and future.

This is a wonderful legacy.

A dialogue that transcends time.

A deep-seated sense of identity.