Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Not long after the mysterious man left, Wu Tao realized something was wrong. She opened the cabinet where the herbs were stored and was hit by a pungent smell. A closer look revealed that the originally green herbs had withered and turned black, and it was obvious that someone had tampered with them.

"Who wants to harm me?" Wu Tao's heart was filled with confusion and anger.

What she didn't know was that a bigger conspiracy was quietly approaching.

A strange epidemic broke out around the capital. The patients had high fevers, rashes all over their bodies, and were in great pain. The Imperial Hospital was helpless, and the folk doctors were also helpless. For a time, people were in panic and rumors spread everywhere.

"I heard that this epidemic is a punishment from heaven. It's God punishing us!"

"Someone must have done something against the will of heaven to anger the heavens!"

Some people with ulterior motives began to spread rumors, pointing the finger at Wu Tao and Hu Bugui.

"I heard that the miracle doctor who cured the empress dowager before was not a miracle doctor at all, but a witch!"

"Yes, yes, I've heard that too. She knows witchcraft and can confuse people. She cured the Queen Mother before, but she just used some evil methods!"

"And there's Hu Bugui. When he was a prince, he was arrogant and extravagant. Even though he's been demoted to a commoner now, he still doesn't repent. He must have done something that angered the gods and the people, which led to this disaster!"

The rumor spread quickly in the city like a plague. The people who were grateful to Wu Tao and Hu Bugui began to become suspicious and fearful. They no longer sought treatment from Wu Tao and Hu Bugui, and even avoided them.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui felt unprecedented pressure. They knew that someone was behind the scenes, trying to take this opportunity to kill them.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui were not defeated by the rumors, they decided to prove their innocence with actions. In order to find out the truth, they traveled to the villages around the capital, asking about the condition of each household and looking for clues.

One day, they came to a small village called Taohua Village. Most of the people in the village were infected with the disease and the situation was very critical. Wu Tao and Hu Bugui did not take time to rest and immediately began to treat the villagers.

At this time, a white-haired old man came to the entrance of the village. He was wearing coarse linen clothes, but he looked like a Taoist. When the villagers saw the old man, they all knelt down and kowtowed: "Please, the doctor, save us!"

It turns out that this old man is the famous doctor in the world, named Hua Tuo reincarnated. He traveled all over the world, practicing medicine to save people, with superb medical skills and miraculous healing. This time, he heard that an epidemic broke out around the capital, so he rushed to help.

Hua Tuo carefully observed the villagers' symptoms, asked Wu Tao and Hu Bugui about their treatment methods, and his brows gradually furrowed.

"This is not an ordinary epidemic," Hua Tuo said solemnly, "someone deliberately poisoned it!"

"What?!" Wu Tao and Hu Bugui were shocked when they heard this. "Who is so cruel to kill so many innocent people?!"

"I am just about to investigate this matter," Hua Tuo said, "Judging from the composition of the poison, it is not from the common people. It is very likely from the palace."

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui looked at each other, and both had an ominous premonition in their hearts. It seemed that there was a huge conspiracy behind this epidemic!

"We must find out the truth as soon as possible and bring the mastermind behind this to justice!" Hu Bugui clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with determination.

"But we have no clue now. Where should we start?" Wu Tao asked worriedly.

"Don't worry," Hua Tuo said, "I have found some clues and I believe we will find the answer soon."

After some discussion, the three decided to act separately to find out the truth as soon as possible, to give justice to the people and to clear their own name.

They acted separately, Wu Tao was responsible for collecting evidence among the people, while Hu Bugui used his connections to negotiate in the court. However, danger also quietly approached.

That evening, Wu Tao disguised herself and followed the clues provided by Hua Tuo to a remote house on the outskirts of the city. Under the cover of night, the house looked particularly eerie and scary. Wu Tao took a deep breath and was about to go forward to investigate, when suddenly, several black shadows jumped out from the darkness and attacked her without saying a word.

Although Wu Tao didn't know martial arts, she was quick to react and dodged quickly. The men in black chased her relentlessly, and Wu Tao was in danger amidst the flashes of swords and sabers. At this critical moment, a feather arrow flew through the air and hit the arm of one of the men in black. The men in black felt pain and slowed down their movements. Wu Tao took the opportunity to escape, but one of them still scratched her arm.

Wu Tao endured the pain and ran all the way until she was sure she had shaken off the pursuers. She covered her injured arm, still in shock. This group of black-clad men were clearly well prepared, and their moves were deadly. It seemed that they had touched the interests of some people, which led to such crazy revenge.

At the same time, a conspiracy against Wu Tao and Hu Bugui was brewing in the palace.

"Your Majesty! I have something to report!" An official stood up indignantly. He was the opposition official who had been against Hu Bugui. "Wu Tao and Hu Bugui spread rumors to confuse the people. Not only did they fail to cure the epidemic, but they killed more people! Now the people are angry. Your Majesty, please bring them to justice immediately to calm the public anger!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, these two people have ulterior motives. Keeping them will only cause endless troubles!" Several other opposition officials also echoed.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face gloomy, and he said nothing. Although he had some doubts in his heart, his intuition told him that this matter was not that simple.

He rubbed his brows and waved his hands tiredly: "This matter is of great importance. I need time to find out the truth. Come, first detain Wu Tao and Hu Bugui in the Heavenly Prison. No one is allowed to visit them without my order!"

When the news reached the people, the common people were talking about it. Those who had been grateful to Wu Tao and Hu Bugui began to doubt them. Could they really be liars who deceived the people with their lies as the officials said? Only those villagers who had lived with Wu Tao and Hu Bugui day and night and witnessed their kindness and hard work with their own eyes always believed in their innocence.

"This is impossible! Madam Wu and Lord Hu are both good people, how could they do such a thing!" The village chief slammed the table so hard that his beard stood up in anger.

"Someone must have framed them behind the scenes!" said a villager with red eyes, "We can't just watch them suffer injustice!"

"Yes, we are going to redress their grievances!"

The villagers were so excited that even the elderly Hua Tuo stood up with his cane and said, "Although I am old, I am willing to speak up for them! Madam Wu and Lord Hu are both rare and righteous people. I believe they will never do anything to harm the people!"

In this way, a spontaneous action of appealing for justice organized by the villagers began. They brought fruits and vegetables they had grown by themselves, as well as straw sandals and cloth clothes they had woven by themselves, and marched towards the capital. Along the way, they told everyone about the good deeds of Wu Tao and Hu Bugui, hoping to gain more support. The cell was cold and damp, and the air was filled with a musty smell. Wu Tao sat on a haystack, flipping through a medical book in the dim candlelight, with a frown on her face. Since she was imprisoned in the Tianlao, she could no longer remember how many days and nights had passed.

"Still thinking of a solution?" Hu Bugui's voice sounded beside his ears, with a hint of fatigue and worry. He walked over to Wu Tao and sat down, gently holding her in his arms, "Don't think about it, the truth will eventually come out."

Wu Tao shook his head, his eyes gleaming with determination: "No, I can't just sit there and wait for death. Someone must be behind this, trying to kill us."

She put down the medical book and took out a handkerchief from her bosom, on which was embroidered a delicate peach blossom. This was a gift from her mother before she traveled through time, and it was also her only wish.

"Look, there seems to be something stained on the petals." Wu Tao said, pointing to an imperceptible dark red mark on the edge of the petals.

Hu Bugui took the handkerchief and examined it carefully, his expression gradually becoming serious: "This color... looks like blood, but it's a little different, more like some kind of powder."

Wu Tao's heart moved, and a flash of inspiration suddenly came to his mind: "I remember! When I was treating those patients before, I found that although their symptoms were similar, their pulses were slightly different. At that time, I thought I had misjudged. Now it seems that the problem is very likely with this medicine powder!"

She stood up suddenly and paced back and forth in the small cell, her thoughts racing: "If I'm not mistaken, this epidemic is not a natural disaster, but a man-made disaster! Someone deliberately used this special powder to create the plague, and then put the blame on us!"

Hu Bugui also realized the seriousness of the matter. He asked in a deep voice, "Then do you know what this powder is? And who is behind all this?"

Wu Tao shook his head, a trace of anxiety on his face: "I have no clue yet, but I believe that as long as we continue to investigate, we will definitely find the truth!"

At this moment, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the cell, followed by the rough voice of the jailer: "Wu Tao, Hu Bugui, someone is here to visit you!"