Zhu Gang was secretly cultivating his own power; his rebellious heart was already growing impatient. Originally, he was afraid of Zhu Yuanzhang, so he thought that even if he rebelled, he would wait until Zhu Yuanzhang was dead.

Anyway, his biggest fear was Zhu Yunwen, followed by Zhu Yuanzhang. Once Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Yuanzhang died, he would really have no one to fear.

But now that I think about it, although Zhu Yuanzhang is not dead yet, he is old after all. Especially after experiencing the double blow of losing his son and now his grandson, he is somewhat depressed.

If he were to rebel at this time, it might anger Zhu Yuanzhang even more, thus worsening his health and leaving him unable to do many things effectively.

Therefore, Zhu Gang also felt that this was obviously an opportunity. If he rebelled while Zhu Yuanzhang was still recovering from the blow, his father would definitely be powerless to resist.

Once the rebellion succeeds, he can immediately become the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

You must understand, the emperors of the Ming Dynasty were truly high and mighty, especially after realizing how vast the world was and how many countries there were. This made the people of the Ming Dynasty understand how powerful the Ming Dynasty was and how noble its emperors were.

Therefore, Zhu Gang longed to become the emperor of the Ming Dynasty and create his own legend.

So he began to secretly recruit soldiers and horses in large numbers, and used almost all of the wealth he had accumulated over the years for this rebellion.

He believed that there must be some ministers in the court who would support him, since, in terms of rationality, it seemed that only he was fit to be emperor.

Apart from him, the others either didn't have enough seniority or had already lost their opportunities due to serious mistakes.

While Prince Zhu Gang of Jin was secretly preparing for a rebellion, he was also trying to get court officials to submit memorials advocating for him to become the crown prince.

Zhu Yunwen was as carefree as an immortal. The Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, and there were many traditional folk activities, one of which was dragon boat racing.

Qingjiang Town, as its name suggests, has a river, so it naturally attracts people from the surrounding areas to gather here to participate in the dragon boat race.

Or perhaps it's watching a grand event like this.

The following morning, as the sun shone on the Qingjiang River, dragon boats were already in the water, and young men participating in the race were paddling hard, vying to be the first to enter the river.

On both sides of the river, many tourists cheered and shouted, including Zhu Yuntong and Zhao Qingzhu.

The two were like an ordinary couple. Of course, Zhu Yunwen was disguised at this moment. He would disguise himself every time he came out, and would return to his original appearance when he returned to the valley.

Therefore, no one here could recognize that this handsome young man, whose unparalleled beauty could not be concealed even with disguise, was none other than His Highness the Crown Prince, a legendary figure of the Ming Dynasty.

The person whom everyone in heaven thought was dead.

At this moment, he seemed like an ordinary person, watching such a grand event with his wife.

Zhu Yunwen enjoyed this feeling, just as Zhao Qingzhu had said before, this kind of ordinary life was closer to reality.

A person's life, as long as it is authentic, will be happy, joyful, and fulfilling.

Sometimes, when one holds a high position for a long time and lives a seemingly extraordinary life, it can also bring about an endless sense of emptiness and falsehood.

It's not as real or enjoyable as it is now.

Small joys can bring smiles to people's faces, and a little expectation can become a source of emotional support. Isn't that a good thing?

Even after the dragon boat races ended, Qingjiang Town remained bustling with activity. Tourists from surrounding areas strolled around the town, and young and old alike laughed and joked in the streets. Zhu Yuntong and Zhao Qingzhu walked together, wandering around the town.

As we passed a platform that had been set up, there were many elderly people and some young men and women watching from below.

It seems that the elders set some kind of questions, and some cultured scholars and talented men went up to compose poems and couplets.

You'll receive a prize then. That's how entertainment was in ancient times. It was inseparable from culture and tradition. The things we played were all very elegant.

This is why scholars and talented individuals in ancient times were able to make a name for themselves wherever they went.

Because only people like them can always leave behind topics that people discuss over tea and after meals when they go to these places.

At this moment, many scholars and talented individuals went up to compose poems or couplets based on the topics proposed by the elders. In any case, such a scene always attracted many people to come and watch.

Regardless of their education or lack of knowledge, they were all happy to come and see.

Because in such an era, the cultural pursuits involving literature and intellectuals always attracted endless admiration and longing.

There was a famous scholar in this town named Li Youzhen. At this moment, he stepped forward and looked up at the topic that the old men had set together: the topic of life's journey.

To be honest, this is indeed a very broad topic. And it demands a great deal of life experience from those who write lyrics and poems.

Otherwise, it would be very difficult to express such a question.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!