The candlelight seemed somewhat cold amidst the swirling incense; though it struggled to rise, it always fell weakly in the end, making the light in the room flicker and waver.
The main hall was silent, with only the scent of incense filling the air.
But the moment Qin Kou'er stepped inside, she seemed to sense that countless people were watching her and whispering among themselves around her.
This is a huge underground palace, seemingly built beneath the Kunning Palace. However, it is many times larger than the Kunning Palace.
This construction method, which involves reflecting the water, and reversing the layout of everything on the ground, made Qin Kou'er realize that Qin Meiying was indeed a genius worthy of her reputation.
Even though they were confined to the inner palace for more than ten years, they were still able to build something so magnificent. It's truly amazing.
However, Qin Kou'er had no mood to appreciate the magnificent building at this moment. She stood in the center of the hall, her heart churning like a turbulent tide.
Qin Meiying led Qin Kou'er forward step by step, passing countless spirit tablets on both sides.
“Kou’er, these are all the ancestors of the Qin family, the wronged souls who died at the hands of Hu Tianyong and his gang. I know you must have a list on your own about how many people in the Qin family died that night! But your list is incomplete.”
Qin Meiying spoke softly, her voice carrying an indescribable eeriness and resentment as she recalled the words in the empty hall.
"Oh? I wonder if Your Highness has forgotten anyone else?"
Qin Kou'er followed behind Qin Meiying, looking at the memorial tablets on both sides as she spoke softly.
Qin Meiying stopped and turned to look at Qin Kou'er, smiling faintly as she said, "Kou'er, there is no longer an empress in this Ancestral Hall. Here, there are only members of the Qin family, living or private, wandering souls or ghosts. If you still consider me a member of the Qin family, call me Aunt. If you still blame me like Lin Xue and Yi Yang, then call me Miss."
At this point, Qin Meiying smiled wisely and understandingly at Qin Kou'er: "Don't worry, whatever you call me, I can accept it and understand it! At the same time, I won't blame you! You've both suffered too much and been wronged too much, how could I blame you for something like this?"
Qin Meiying sighed deeply, her gaze sweeping over the tokens in front of her, and said with infinite sorrow, "All the evil deeds were caused by me. It is already a blessing from heaven that you do not blame me, so how could I blame you children?"
Hearing Qin Meiying's sorrowful and desolate words, Qin Kou'er lowered her head and remained silent for a while before raising her head, slowly walking over, taking Qin Meiying's hand, and softly saying, "How can you blame Aunt for such a thing? It's all because of those people's wolfish ambitions, eyeing our Qin family's property. I think even without Aunt, Hu Tianyong would have definitely come to sweep and plunder the Qin family back then!"
When Qin Meiying heard Qin Kou'er call her aunt, she felt both touched and saddened. She took Qin Kou'er's hand and gently patted it with tears in her eyes, saying, "Good child! Your master did not teach you in vain. You have made your aunt feel so ashamed! It's just that you have suffered so much all these years, having to endure it all alone!"
As she spoke, Qin Meiying reached out and touched Qin Kou'er's face with pity, "How much hardship must you have endured to get to where you are today!"
Qin Meiying let out a long sigh, as if she had released all the grievances Qin Kou'er had suffered over the years.
Qin Kou'er felt the warmth emanating from Qin Meiying's palm and couldn't help but smile slightly. She reached out and touched Qin Meiying's hand, saying softly, "But we're all alive now! Aunt, I think as long as we're alive, there's always hope, isn't there!"
Qin Meiying looked at Qin Kou'er in front of her and nodded gently but firmly, "Yes! As long as we live, there is always hope! This hope will lead us out of hell, to our enemies, and push them into the abyss as well!"
Qin Kou'er looked at Qin Meiying and nodded vigorously. Then she raised her hand and gently took Qin Meiying's arm. The two of them slowly walked to the center of the main hall under the watchful eyes of the Qin family.
“I know! You must think that only two hundred or so people in the Qin family died. But that’s not right! The number of people implicated back then was far greater than you know.” Saying this, Qin Meiying turned to look at Qin Kou’er, then swept her hand around: “Back then, a total of six hundred and fifty-eight people, including those from the Qin family and those implicated by the Qin family, died! These people were either members of the Qin family, relatives and friends of the Qin family, or secret contacts of the Qin family hidden in various places. After the Qin family was in trouble, all of them were killed sooner or later!”
Qin Kou'er had never imagined there would be so many. Looking at the countless tokens around her, she couldn't help but say, "How can there be so many? I've never found out about so many people during all these years of investigation!"
Qin Meiying sneered: "Hu Tianyong and Xu Ming led their men to wipe out the entire family, eliminating all traces and leaving no clues whatsoever. Think about it, if even a single spark is left in a family, you can find clues. But some families even cut down the trees in front of their doors, so how could they possibly leave you with the slightest clue?"
Qin Kou'er immediately fell silent. Yes, these beastly people would never give anyone a chance to breathe.
Qin Kou'er had already experienced their ruthlessness over the years.
Qin Meiying led Qin Kou'er as they continued walking among the spirit tablets.
"Aunt, how did you know that these people died because of the Qin family? And how did you survive?"
Qin Kou'er felt that not only she herself needed to know these words, but Lan Linxue also needed to know them. She couldn't let Lan Linxue, who longed for her mother, end up in a life-or-death dilemma.
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