Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Wu Tao repeatedly stroked the letter, and the beautiful handwriting seemed to exude a chill that made her shudder. Hu Bugui brought the letter close to the candlelight, trying to find more clues, but apart from the handwriting and the paper itself, the letter left no trace.

"It seems that there is indeed someone from Zhao Qian lurking around us," Hu Bugui said in a deep voice, "but I don't know if this person is an enemy or a friend."

Wu Tao frowned, thought for a moment and said, "No matter who he is, at least he reminded us that there are dangers lurking at the banquet. We must be extra careful."

After discussing, the two decided to take advantage of the situation and expose Zhao Qian's true identity at the banquet. They secretly contacted the emperor's trusted guards and arranged reliable personnel, preparing to work together inside and outside to capture Zhao Qian on the night of the banquet.

As night fell, the palace was brightly lit, with elegant people in fine clothes, clinking glasses, and a scene of prosperity and peace. Wu Tao was wearing a simple skirt, with her long black hair tied into a simple bun, embellished with only a few elegant pearl flowers. Although she was not wearing any makeup, it was hard to hide her elegant and refined temperament. Hu Bugui was wearing a dark brocade robe, with a piece of white jade on his waist, which made him look even more handsome and majestic.

The two walked into the banquet hall side by side, immediately attracting everyone's attention. Zhao Qian smiled and raised his glass to the two, but a subtle ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. Wu Tao and Hu Bugui greeted everyone calmly, but their eyes remained alert, secretly observing the movements around them.

Halfway through the banquet, the atmosphere seemed harmonious with singing and dancing. However, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui always felt an invisible pressure looming over them, like the calm before the storm, which made them breathless...

Wu Tao felt like a thorn in her back, and an ominous premonition came to her mind. She looked around calmly, trying to find the source of the uneasiness. At this moment, she felt a hand gently on her shoulder, accompanied by a greasy voice: "Miss Wu, why are you hiding here alone? Why don't you have a drink with me?"

Wu Tao turned around suddenly and saw a fat official in fancy clothes staring at her with lust and lust in his eyes. Wu Tao was disgusted and was about to refuse, but the official took advantage of her and grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.

"How dare you!" Hu Bugui was furious when he saw this. He rushed forward, grabbed the official's wrist and twisted it hard. The official screamed like a pig being slaughtered, and the wine glass in his hand fell to the ground and shattered.

"Hu Bugui, you are so insolent! Do you know who I am?" The official roared ferociously, covering his crushed wrist bones.

"I don't care who you are!" Hu Bugui's eyes widened with anger, and he shouted, "How dare you flirt with a decent woman in broad daylight? This is simply an unforgivable crime!"

"You...you dare to injure an official appointed by the imperial court. Come here! Catch him!" the official shouted angrily.

Seeing this, the guests gathered around, pointing and talking. Some officials who were on good terms with the official were even more indignant, rolling up their sleeves and ready to help. Just as a fight was about to break out, a majestic voice suddenly rang out from the crowd: "Stop! Everyone, get out of here!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a mysterious man wearing a black cloak and a hat, whose face could not be seen clearly, slowly approaching. He exuded a strong aura that made people dare not look directly at him. After seeing this man, the officials who were originally aggressive all became quiet at the same time, their eyes filled with awe.

The mysterious man walked up to Hu Bugui and Wu Tao, nodded slightly, then turned to face the crowd and said in a deep voice: "This matter has nothing to do with them. It is Lord Zhao's own fault. No one else can be blamed."

The fat official's face turned pale when he heard this, and his lips trembled and he could not speak. He knew that today's incident would not end well.

The mysterious man ignored the official's panic and just glanced around calmly, and the crowd automatically parted ways. He led Hu Bugui and Wu Tao through the crowd and came to the emperor. When the emperor saw the mysterious man, his face changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and motioned for them to sit down next to him.

The banquet was still going on, but the atmosphere was completely different from before. Hu Bugui and Wu Tao knew that the real competition had just begun. They observed their surroundings calmly, waiting for the best opportunity.

Finally, the official appeared beside Wu Tao again, and tried to take Wu Tao away by force. This time, Hu Bugui was well prepared. He acted like lightning, pressed the official's acupuncture points, and then stuffed a letter into his arms.

"You should explain the good things you did to the emperor yourself." Hu Bugui said coldly, then took Wu Tao's hand and walked towards the center of the hall step by step.

"Your Majesty, I have something important to report!" Hu Bugui's voice echoed in the hall, and everyone's eyes were focused on him.

He listed the official's crimes one by one and exposed the conspiracy of the mysterious organization behind him in public. The emperor did not believe it at first, but as Hu Bugui produced more and more evidence, his face became more and more ugly.

"How dare you! How dare you frame an official appointed by the imperial court!" Upon seeing this, the official's accomplices immediately jumped out to accuse Hu Bugui.

"False accusation? Then let the facts speak for themselves!" Hu Bugui sneered and pointed at the official who had been acupunctured.

The mysterious man walked up to the official and tapped him gently, unblocking his acupuncture points. The official knew that he was doomed, so he decided to go all out, drew out his hidden sword, and stabbed the emperor.

"Protect the Emperor!"

In the chaos, swords flashed and shouts of killing were deafening. Hu Bugui protected Wu Tao and fought a desperate battle with the enemy. A mysterious man also joined the battle. He was highly skilled in martial arts and ruthless. The assassins retreated step by step under his attack.

In the end, all the enemies were subdued, including the official who attempted to assassinate the emperor. The emperor was unharmed under the protection of the guards. He looked at the mess on the ground, and his heart was filled with fear and anger.

"Lord Hu, this time it's all thanks to you!" The emperor sighed, his eyes full of admiration, "If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would be..."

"This is what I should do." Hu Bugui answered modestly.

"No, you have made great contributions. I will reward you!" The emperor said, looking at the eunuch beside him, "Pass on my decree, appoint Hu Bugui as the general of national defense, and grant..."

"Your Majesty," Hu Bugui interrupted the emperor, "I just want to live a peaceful life. Please take back your order."

The emperor was stunned for a moment, then he understood Hu Bugui's intention. He looked at Wu Tao beside him, and a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes.

"Okay, I promise you." The emperor said with a smile, "You and Wu Tao are both meritorious officials of my Tang Dynasty. I will always remember your contributions." Outside Chang'an City, the peach blossoms are splendid, just like when Wu Tao first arrived. The difference is that now, she is standing next to her beloved Hu Bugui, the two of them holding hands, and their eyes reflect each other's happiness. Away from the disputes in the court, they chose to settle down in a small village on the outskirts of the city, and lived a plain life of working from sunrise to sunset.

"Taotao, look, the sunset is so beautiful today." Hu Bugui hugged Wu Tao from behind, his chin gently resting on the top of her head, and his warm breath brushed her ears.

Wu Tao tilted her head slightly, kissed him on the cheek, and said softly: "Yes, every day with you is as beautiful as this."

Hu Bugui chuckled and hugged her tighter. He knew that Taotao was still a little uneasy. Although the mysterious organization had been eradicated, the world was dangerous, and who could guarantee that there would not be new threats?

In the dead of night, Wu Tao suddenly felt a palpitation in her heart and woke up suddenly. She turned her head to look at her side. Hu Bugui was sleeping soundly, but there was a hint of fatigue between his handsome eyebrows. She knew that he was also like her, always keeping vigilant.

"What's wrong?" Hu Bugui noticed her uneasiness, opened his eyes, held her in his arms, and asked softly.

Wu Tao shook his head, suppressed the uneasiness in his heart, and said softly: "It's okay, I just had a nightmare."

Hu Bugui did not ask any further questions. He just hugged her tighter and whispered in her ear, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

However, at this moment, a rapid knock on the door broke the silence of the night, accompanied by an anxious voice: "Brother Hu, Sister Wu Tao, something bad has happened!"