Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Wu Tao's uneasy premonition was soon confirmed. The "challenge" brought by Marcus was not the swordplay, but the pressure from political marriage. After several attempts, the emperor became interested in the marriage mentioned by the Roman envoy, and the discussion about the candidate for the marriage was rampant in the court.

The originally peaceful life was disturbed again, but Wu Tao was no longer the stranger who had just arrived. She and Hu Bugui had experienced too many ups and downs together, and had already learned how to deal with it calmly.

"Tao'er, don't worry, I'll take care of everything." Hu Bugui held Wu Tao's hand, his eyes firm and gentle. He understood what Wu Tao was thinking, and he also understood the responsibility on his shoulders.

They decided to stay away from the center of power and bought a small manor on the outskirts of the capital. The place was surrounded by mountains and rivers, with beautiful scenery, which was just right for living a pastoral life away from the world.

On the day of moving out of the palace, Chuntao insisted on going with them. "Sister Wu Tao, Brother Hu, wherever you are, I will be there." Her eyes were red, but her tone was very firm.

Thus, Chuntao, who once served the princess in the palace, became the housekeeper of the small manor. She was lively by nature and efficient in her work, and she managed the manor in an orderly manner.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui enjoyed the long-lost tranquility. They worked in the fields together, feeling the fragrance of the land; strolled together in the sunset, admiring the afterglow of the setting sun; talked about each other's dreams under the starry sky at night. Life was simple and happy, as if all the troubles in the world had nothing to do with them.

Occasionally, the emperor would go out incognito and visit their manor. He was no longer a high and mighty emperor, but more like an amiable elder. He would drink tea and play chess with Hu Bugui, and chat with Wu Tao, sharing the country's development and interesting stories.

"Tao'er, I know you have resentment in your heart, but I am also thinking about the future of the Tang Dynasty." The emperor once said with emotion, "But don't worry, I will do my best to deal with you and will never let you suffer any injustice."

Wu Tao understood the emperor's difficulties and his helplessness. She just listened quietly without saying much. She believed that with her and Hu Bugui's abilities, they could find a way to solve the problem and protect this hard-earned peaceful life.

However, fate always likes to play jokes. Just when they thought they could live peacefully like this, something unexpected happened...

Thus, Chuntao, who once served the princess in the palace, became the housekeeper of the small manor. She was lively by nature and efficient, and she managed the manor in an orderly manner. Wu Tao and Hu Bugui enjoyed the long-lost tranquility. They worked in the fields, feeling the fragrance of the soil, and their sweat dripping into the land, as if nourishing new hope. When the sun set, they would walk side by side on the ridge of the field, and the sunset made their figures particularly slender.

"Tao'er, do you still remember the night we first met?" Hu Bugui pointed at the blush in the sky, his eyes full of smiles, "You were like a frightened little rabbit then, but now, you have finally found your own peace."

Wu Tao looked up at him, her eyes full of tenderness and affection. "After meeting you, I realized that there really is such a person in this world who you are willing to stay with and spend your life with."

Occasionally, the emperor would go out incognito and visit their manor. After taking off his dragon robe, he was no longer the almighty emperor, but more like an amiable elder. He would drink tea and play chess with Hu Bugui under the grape trellis, discuss the situation in the world, and would also listen with great interest to Wu Tao's stories about the interesting things in the manor.

"Tao'er, I know you have resentment in your heart, but I am also thinking about the future of the Tang Dynasty." The emperor once said with emotion, his words no longer had the majesty of the past, but instead had a bit more helplessness, "But don't worry, I will do my best to deal with it for you, and I will never let you suffer any grievances."

In addition to the emperor, Marcus, an envoy from the Western Regions, also became a frequent visitor to the manor. He brought all kinds of novel items and stories, which opened the eyes of Wu Tao and Hu Bugui. Wu Tao especially liked the various spice seeds brought by Marcus. She carefully planted them in the manor, hoping that they would thrive.

"Tao'er, why are you so interested in these exotic flowers and plants?" Hu Bugui looked at her busy figure in the fields, his eyes full of pampering.

"I just think that they come from a distant country and must have different stories." Wu Tao raised his head, with a strange light flashing in his eyes, "Maybe they can bring us unexpected gains!"

Seeing Wu Tao's confident look, Hu Bugui had an inexplicable premonition in his heart, as if something was about to happen...

…Looking at Wu Tao's confident look, Hu Bugui had an inexplicable premonition in his heart, as if something was about to happen…

As expected, Wu Tao discovered several new varieties suitable for local cultivation from the spice seeds brought by Marcus. With modern agricultural knowledge, she improved the soil and took good care of it, and surprisingly had a good harvest. These spices are not only brightly colored and fragrant, but more importantly, they also have special medicinal value. Wu Tao made them into sachets and ointments, and even developed a new spice formula, which quickly became popular in the capital.

"Tao'er, you are really clever and deft. You can always turn something ordinary into something magical." Hu Bugui looked at Wu Tao's busy figure, his eyes full of admiration.

Wu Tao smiled and said, "I just want more people to feel the charm from foreign lands."

Their estate gradually became a well-known "spice garden", attracting many dignitaries to visit and buy. Wu Tao also made many friends and lived a fulfilling and happy life.

In his spare time, Hu Bugui opened a private school in the manor and taught the children in the neighborhood to read and write for free. He was knowledgeable and upright, and was deeply loved by the people. The children affectionately called him "Mr. Hu".

"Sir, do you think we can serve the country like you in the future?" A chubby little boy looked up, his eyes full of admiration.

Hu Bugui patted his head and said with a smile: "As long as you study hard, you will achieve something in the future and make contributions to the country."

Looking at the innocent smiles of the children, Hu Bugui was filled with hope. He believed that even if he was far away from the court, he could still seek welfare for the people in his own way.

At night, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui often sit in the yard, looking up at the stars, and recalling the past. From their initial meeting, to their later acquaintance and love, to their peaceful life today, they have experienced too many ups and downs and gained too much touching moments.

"Tao'er, thank you for helping me find the meaning of life." Hu Bugui gently held Wu Tao's hand, his eyes full of tenderness.

Wu Tao leaned on his shoulder, feeling his warmth, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised: "Me too, meeting you is my greatest luck."

However, behind this seemingly peaceful and happy life, an undercurrent is quietly surging...

As night fell, the sky was dotted with stars and the moonlight poured down like water, covering the entire manor with a hazy veil. Wu Tao and Hu Bugui sat in the yard as usual, looking up at the starry sky and recalling every bit of the past.

"Do you remember the first time we met? At that time I thought you were a scoundrel." Wu Tao turned his head and looked at Hu Bugui, his eyes full of smiles.

"How could I forget it?" Hu Bugui held Wu Tao's hand and gently stroked it. "You were so smart and cunning back then. I still remember it vividly."

"At that time, we didn't expect that we would become each other's most important people in life." Wu Tao leaned her head gently on Hu Bugui's shoulder, with a hint of emotion in her tone.

From their initial encounter, to their later acquaintance and love, to their peaceful life today, they have experienced too many ups and downs and gained too many touching moments. The love between them is no longer a grand vow, but a long-lasting love that has grown deeper and deeper in the ordinary days, becoming a good story among people.

However, just when they thought they could live peacefully like this, a letter from afar broke the peace...

However, just when they thought everything would remain peaceful like this, a letter from afar broke the tranquility.

That day, Chun Tao hurried to Wu Tao, holding a letter in her hand, and looked anxious: "Miss, there is a letter from the palace!"

Wu Tao took the letter and saw a bright red seal on the envelope, and her heart tightened immediately. Since leaving the palace, she and her brother the emperor had rarely contacted each other. Now there was a sudden letter. Could it be that something happened in the palace?

She took a deep breath, opened the envelope, quickly glanced at the contents of the letter, and her face suddenly became solemn. Seeing this, Hu Bugui asked with concern: "Tao'er, what's wrong? What happened in the palace?"

Wu Tao was silent for a moment, then handed him the letter in his hand and said in a heavy tone, "Read it yourself."

Hu Bugui took the letter and read it carefully. The letter was written by the emperor himself, and the words revealed anxiety and helplessness. It turned out that the envoys from the Western Regions were about to arrive in Chang'an. However, this time they came not for a friendly visit, but with the ultimatum of the King of the Western Regions - demanding that the Tang Dynasty cede territory and pay compensation, otherwise he would march eastward and go to war with the Tang Dynasty!