Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

"Old man, you are really a timely rain! I don't know how to address you?" Hu Bugui said gratefully.

"My surname is Zhang, my name is Zhongjing, and I only have a basic understanding of medicine." The old man smiled faintly, his tone calm and indifferent.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui were shocked when they heard this. Zhang Zhongjing, that's the Medical Saint! They were lucky enough to see the Medical Saint in person!

Without time to think, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui quickly followed Zhang Zhongjing's instructions to gather the villagers and quarantine and disinfect each household. They divided the village into different areas and strictly controlled the flow of people. At the same time, according to the records in medical books, they made decoctions with herbs such as mugwort and calamus and distributed them to the villagers to prevent and treat the epidemic.

At first, the villagers were full of resistance to these measures due to fear and misunderstanding. But as time went on, they witnessed with their own eyes that the epidemic was gradually brought under control, fewer and fewer people were infected, and the number of deaths gradually decreased. The originally lifeless village gradually recovered its vitality, and people's faces began to smile again.

When the news reached the capital, the emperor sent an official to be in charge of epidemic prevention and control. Seeing that the village was in good order and the epidemic was under effective control, the official praised Wu Tao and Hu Bugui for their efforts. "You two have done a great deed! May I ask how you controlled the epidemic?" the official asked curiously.

"Your Excellency, we..." Wu Tao was about to say that it was Zhang Zhongjing's medical skills, but was stopped by Hu Bugui.

He knew very well that in this era, mentioning Zhang Zhongjing's name would only cause unnecessary trouble, so he said: "Your Excellency, we have only explored some effective epidemic prevention methods based on some folk remedies and combined with the actual situation."

As he spoke, Hu Bugui handed the official a booklet that recorded the epidemic prevention measures and prescriptions. The official took the booklet, flipped through it carefully, and showed a pleasant surprise on his face. "Good! Good! Good! These methods are simple and easy to implement, and the effect is remarkable. They should be promoted nationwide!"

The arrival of the officials brought a long-lost bustle to the small mountain village. The villagers came out of their homes and watched these distinguished guests from the capital. They watched the officials praise Wu Tao and Hu Bugui, and they all smiled with pride.

Since Wu Tao and Hu Bugui came to the village, they have unreservedly passed on their medical skills and knowledge to everyone. They not only taught the villagers how to prevent diseases, but also taught them how to grow herbs and make simple medicines. With their help, the lives of the villagers have been greatly improved.

"Doctor Wu, Doctor Hu, thank you so much! If it weren't for you, we don't know what to do!" An old lady said excitedly, holding Wu Tao's hand.

"Yes, yes! You are our benefactors!" Other villagers also echoed.

Seeing the grateful eyes of the villagers, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui were filled with warmth. They just wanted to do their part to help these kind people, but they didn't expect to receive such a precious reward.

In order to make it easier for villagers to see a doctor and get medicine, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui opened a small clinic at the entrance of the village. A simple plaque with three big characters "Jishitang" was hung at the entrance of the clinic. These three characters were written by Hu Bugui himself, with strong and vigorous strokes, revealing the benevolence of a doctor.

Jishitang's business was extremely prosperous, with patients coming from all over the country to seek medical treatment and medicine every day. Wu Tao and Hu Bugui treated every patient like a family member, diagnosing the condition patiently and carefully and preparing medicines meticulously. Their medical skills were superb, and their medicines cured all diseases, and they soon won the trust and love of the villagers.

As time went by, the reputation of Jishitang gradually spread to nearby villages and towns. More and more people came here just to seek the prescriptions of Wu Tao and Hu Bugui. The small clinic became a beacon of hope in people's hearts and illuminated the life paths of countless people.

The news brought by the officials blew through the small mountain village like a spring breeze, sweeping away the haze that had shrouded the villagers' hearts for many days. The court not only sent awards and rewards, but also brought a shocking news to everyone: the mysterious old man who had been fighting side by side with Wu Tao and Hu Bugui and taught them the secret recipe for epidemic prevention was actually the descendant of the great doctor Bian Que who had retired from the world for many years!

"I am just a commoner, unworthy of being valued by the court!" The genius doctor humbly declined the official's invitation.

"Sir, you have superb medical skills and care about the people. You are exactly the talent the court needs!" the official said sincerely. "Now that the epidemic has just subsided, we need a master of medicine like you to take charge of the Imperial Hospital and protect the health of the people!"

The doctor was finally moved by the sincerity of the officials and agreed to enter the palace. Before leaving, he gave Wu Tao and Hu Bugui the medical books and prescriptions he had collected for many years, and said earnestly: "My greatest wish in this life is to pass on what I have learned throughout my life to those who are destined to be with me. Now that I see the two of you practicing medicine to help the world, I have finally put my mind at ease and can return to Beijing to report."

After the miracle doctor left, the small mountain village regained its former tranquility. But this time, the villagers no longer had fear and worry on their faces, but instead had hope and longing for the future.

To celebrate the end of the epidemic and to thank Wu Tao and Hu Bugui for their contributions to the village, the villagers decided to hold a simple wedding for them.

As the news spread, every household spontaneously began to get busy. Men went up the mountain to chop firewood, women gathered together to sew wedding dresses, and children picked wild flowers at the entrance of the village. The whole village was immersed in a festive atmosphere.

On the wedding day, Wu Tao did not wear a gorgeous wedding dress, but only a plain cloth skirt, with a wreath woven by the villagers on her head, and a happy smile on her face. Hu Bugui wore a washed-out long gown with a red silk ribbon tied around his waist, looking particularly energetic.

Without complicated rituals or luxurious ceremonies, with the witness and blessings of the villagers, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui held hands and made a promise to stay together for the rest of their lives.

Their story, which was initially spread by word of mouth in the village, gradually spread to more distant places. Passing travelers, villagers from neighboring villages, and even passing caravans all took away stories about them. People admired Wu Tao's kindness and wisdom, and also admired Hu Bugui's deep affection and responsibility. In that turbulent era, their love story, like a ray of warm sunshine, illuminated people's hearts and gave them a yearning for a better life.

However, fate always likes to play cruel jokes on people when they are happiest. Just when Wu Tao and Hu Bugui were enjoying a peaceful pastoral life and looking forward to the future, a secret letter from the capital broke the tranquility of the small mountain village.

It was an evening when the sun was setting. Hu Bugui was working in the fields while Wu Tao was sorting medicinal herbs in the yard. Suddenly, a stranger in black clothes and a bamboo hat appeared at the door. He took out a letter from his pocket, handed it to Wu Tao, and said in a low voice, "This is a letter from the capital, please be sure to open it yourself."

Wu Tao's heart tightened inexplicably, and an ominous premonition came to her mind. She took the envelope with trembling hands, and saw a bright red seal on it, with the word "secret" faintly visible. Wu Tao took a deep breath, trying to calm her panicked thoughts, and slowly opened the envelope. On the letter paper was the handwriting of Hu Bugui's brother, the current prince. He first praised Hu Bugui and Wu Tao for their contributions to controlling the epidemic and expressed his gratitude to them. But the pen turned, and there was a hint of worry and warning in his words. He vaguely mentioned that some people in the court were uneasy about Hu Bugui's reputation among the people, thinking that he was too successful to be worthy of the emperor, and some even doubted whether he still intended to return to the court and take back everything he had lost. The prince reminded Hu Bugui that if a tree stands out in the forest, the wind will destroy it, so he must be careful and not to cause trouble.

After reading the letter, Wu Tao felt cold in her hands and feet. She knew that her peaceful life might be coming to an end. Although Hu Bugui had already let go of everything and just wanted to live an ordinary and peaceful life with her, the wind would not stop even if the tree wanted to be quiet. They were living in a chaotic world, and some things could not be avoided just by wanting to.

Night fell, and the sky was full of stars. After dinner, Wu Tao handed the letter to Hu Bugui. After reading the letter, Hu Bugui looked solemn and remained silent for a long time. He put the letter on the candlelight, letting the flames devour the thin piece of paper, as if to burn away the hidden dangers.

"It seems that our peaceful life is about to be disrupted." Hu Bugui looked at the flickering candlelight, with a hint of helplessness and bitterness in his tone.

Wu Tao held his hand and said firmly: "No matter what happens, I will stay with you."

Hu Bugui turned to look at Wu Tao, his eyes full of tenderness: "Tao'er, thank you. I know that no matter what the road ahead holds, you will always be my strongest support."

At this time, in a magnificent palace in the capital city thousands of miles away, a middle-aged man in a dragon robe was sitting at a desk with a secret report in his hand. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes were shining with complex light.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?" the eunuch chief serving on the side asked cautiously.

"Nothing." The emperor put down the secret report and rubbed his brows, "It's just that some things make it difficult to make a decision..."