明太祖朱元璋的后裔，在明朝末年遭遇四大冤案，迫使他们改姓“东”逃离家园，最终在山东海阳定居。然而，他们的故事远未结束。在清初，一部分“东”姓族人决定再次迁徙，前往庄河青堆镇孔家村六吉屯定居。这个小村庄隐藏着一个古老的秘密：这里居住的人们claiming to be descendants of the Ming dynasty's imperial family, with many believing that they are direct descendants of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. The village has a population of over 60 households, with more than half identifying as "East" surname.

The villagers claim that their ancestors were forced to flee Beijing during the fall of the Ming dynasty and changed their surnames to avoid persecution. Some fled through the East Gate and became known as "Dong," while others escaped through other gates and took on different surnames. Over time, these families spread across China, but some remained in Shandong province.

Recent research suggests that one group of Dong people migrated from Shandong's Haiyang county to Zhuanghe in Liaoning province around 200 years ago. The villagers have maintained their ancestral traditions, including a unique practice called "Bai Si Fang," where they burn paper offerings for their ancestors at four cardinal directions – east, west, south, and north – symbolizing their connection to the imperial family.

While some may view this story as mere folklore or superstition, others believe it holds historical truth. Archaeological evidence supports the idea that some members of the royal family did indeed flee Beijing during times of turmoil and scatter throughout China under assumed identities.

Regardless of its validity as a historical fact or fiction tale passed down through generations within this small village community remains intact: an enduring testament to human resilience in face adversity