Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Wu Tao walked aimlessly in the imperial garden, feeling heavy in her heart. The imperial concubine's warning was like a sharp blade hanging over her head, leaving her with nowhere to escape. "Do I really have to stay away from Brother Hu for my own protection?" As soon as this thought came to her mind, she rejected it. After going through so much, she had already decided that Hu was not going to return, so how could she let him go so easily? But when she thought of the imperial concubine's power and cruelty, Wu Tao felt powerless again.

"Miss Wu Tao?" Chun Tao's voice came from behind, with a hint of worry, "What's wrong with you? Why do you look so bad?" Wu Tao forced a smile and shook her head: "It's okay, I just feel a little depressed."

Seeing that she didn't want to say more, Chuntao didn't ask any more questions and just walked with her silently.

However, what Wu Tao didn't know was that a bigger storm was coming towards her.

In the morning court that day, Crown Prince Li Longji, contrary to his usual behavior, did not express any opinions on political affairs. Instead, he mentioned a "strange story". "Father, I heard recently that there is a woman in the folk whose words and deeds are strange and incompatible with the traditions of our Tang Dynasty. She even..." He deliberately lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "She also claimed that she is not a citizen of our Tang Dynasty!" As soon as these words came out, the whole court was in an uproar. The emperor frowned and asked, "Oh? Is this true? Who is so bold?"

Li Longji raised a sinister smile at the corner of his mouth, and said slowly: "It was the woman who entered the palace with Hu Bugui to perform that day, Wu Tao." He had already learned Wu Tao's "true identity" from the imperial concubine, and he knew that the imperial concubine was deliberately making things difficult for him.

Therefore, he decided to make a big fuss about this matter and completely push Wu Tao into the abyss.

"Father, this person has an unknown origin and strange words and deeds. We must be on guard!" Li Longji said "righteously", "I am worried that she will be detrimental to the Tang Dynasty!" The emperor was silent and had obviously begun to doubt. Wu Tao, this name once again sounded the alarm in his heart... The flowers are withered and the leaves are falling, the frost is cold and the wind is chilly

The atmosphere in the imperial study was so solemn that even the air seemed to freeze. After listening to Li Longji's "report", the emperor's face was gloomy, and the teacup in his hand creaked.

"Hu Bugui, do you know your crime?" The emperor's voice was low and majestic, carrying a sense of oppression as if a storm was about to come.

Hu Bugui knelt on the golden brick floor, his back straight and his eyes determined: "Your Majesty, I don't know what crime I have committed!"

"Humph! You still dare to quibble!" Li Longji pressed on, "This Wu Tao has an unknown background, and her words and deeds are strange. As an official appointed by the court, you not only do not restrain her, but you are very close to her. What is your intention?"

"Miss Wu Tao did not intend to conceal her identity, she just..." Hu Bugui tried to explain, but was rudely interrupted by Li Longji.

"Enough! The facts are before your eyes, do you still want to deny it?" Li Longji sneered and looked at the emperor, "Father, this person is protecting a person of unknown origin, and his heart is worthy of death. Please investigate!"

The emperor remained silent, just staring at Hu Bugui, as if trying to see something from his face.

"Father, I think this matter is of great importance and must be investigated!" Li Longji saw that the emperor was wavering and quickly added fuel to the fire. "In order to prevent the situation from escalating, I suggest that Hu Bugui be placed under house arrest temporarily, and a decision can be made after the truth is found out!"

The emperor thought for a moment, and finally nodded: "Approved."

Hu Bugui wanted to say something else, but was forcibly taken away by the guards. When he left the imperial study, he took a last look at the emperor, his eyes full of worry and helplessness.

In the imperial garden, Wu Tao was anxiously waiting for news about Hu Bugui. Chun Tao came running over in a hurry, her face full of panic.

"Miss, it's bad! Master Hu..."

"What's wrong, Brother Hu? Tell me quickly!" Wu Tao's heart suddenly rose to his throat.

"Lord Hu has been placed under house arrest by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince on the charge of 'harbouring a criminal'!" Chun Tao's voice trembled slightly.

"What?!" Wu Tao felt a black screen in front of his eyes and almost fainted to the ground.

Chun Tao quickly supported her and comforted her, "Miss, don't worry, Master Hu is a lucky man, nothing will happen to him!"

Wu Tao took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She knew that now was not the time to panic, she had to find a way to save Hu Bugui!

"Chun Tao, can you help me find out why the prince did this?" Wu Tao asked, suppressing the uneasiness in his heart.

"I heard that it was the Imperial Concubine behind this..." Chun Tao lowered her voice and told Wu Tao the news she had heard.

After Wu Tao heard this, she immediately understood about 70% of the situation. It seemed that the imperial concubine wanted to kill her and Hu Bugui completely!

"I can't just sit there and wait for death!" Wu Tao's eyes flashed with a gleam of determination, "Chun Tao, please help me find some writing brushes, inkstones, and paper. I want to write a letter to Brother Hu!"

Although Chuntao was worried, she still prepared according to Wu Tao's instructions.

Wu Tao spread out the rice paper and picked up the brush, but she hesitated to write. She knew that a letter alone could not prove her and Hu Bugui's innocence.

She must find stronger evidence! But where can she, a lonely soul in another world, find evidence?

As night fell, the candle in Wu Tao's room was still lit. She sat at the table, frowning, thinking hard about a solution.

The wind outside the window was getting louder and louder, as if foreshadowing that a bigger storm was coming...

Wu Tao did not sleep all night, the uneasiness in her heart was like the cold wind howling outside the window, beating violently at her heart. Chun Tao's words echoed in her ears, the imperial concubine's revenge was more fierce and more insidious than she had imagined.

The next morning, before daybreak, Wu Tao heard a noise coming from the yard. Her heart tightened, and she quickly got up and went out to check.

The originally peaceful manor was now in a mess, the courtyard wall was pushed down, the flowers and trees were trampled into pieces, and there were some broken rubble and furniture fragments scattered on the ground.

"Chun Tao! Chun Tao!" Wu Tao was extremely anxious and looked everywhere for Chun Tao.

"Girl, I'm here..." Chuntao's weak voice came from the direction of the woodshed.

Wu Tao rushed over following the sound, only to see Chuntao curled up in a corner, her face pale, with a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth, and her clothes torn in many places, revealing shocking scars.

"Chun Tao, how are you? Who hurt you like this?" Wu Tao helped Chun Tao up with heartache and asked anxiously.

Chun Tao shook her head weakly and said intermittently: "Last night... a group of men in black broke in... and beat everyone they saw... I fought desperately... and then..."

"Did those men in black say anything?" Wu Tao had a vague feeling in his heart that this matter was by no means simple.

Chun Tao tried hard to recall and said intermittently: "They...they said...it was the Imperial Concubine...who couldn't stand the girl...and told the girl...to take care of herself..."

"Royal Concubine!" Wu Tao clenched her fists, her eyes burning with anger. She had never thought that the Royal Concubine would be so vicious. Not only did she spread rumors behind her back to ruin her reputation, she also sent people to smash the manor and even injured Chun Tao.

"Girl... don't be impulsive... The imperial concubine is extremely powerful... We can't defeat her..." Chuntao held Wu Tao's hand and said with difficulty.

Wu Tao took a deep breath and tried to suppress the anger in her heart. She knew that Chun Tao was telling the truth. But, was she just going to sit there and wait for death? No, she couldn't just give in!

She wanted to fight back, she wanted to protect herself, Chuntao, and more importantly, rescue Hu Bugui! Wu Tao looked at the devastated manor and the injured Chuntao, and an unprecedented determination rose in her heart. She realized that escaping would not solve any problems, and she had to take the initiative to break the current predicament.

The setting sun was like blood, making the dilapidated courtyard even more desolate. Wu Tao stood in the courtyard, looking at the mess on the ground, but a fire was burning in her heart. The cruelty of the imperial concubine made her understand thoroughly that blindly tolerating would only bring deeper harm. She had to take action to protect herself and Hu Bugui.

"Chun Tao, have a good rest. I'll be back soon." Wu Tao helped Chun Tao lie down with a firm look in his eyes.

"Girl, where are you going? It's too dangerous outside!" Chuntao struggled to get up, but was gently held down by Wu Tao.

"Don't worry, I'm just going out for a walk." Wu Tao smiled comfortingly, turned and walked out of the woodshed, closing the shabby wooden door.

She walked aimlessly on the bustling streets of Chang'an City, thinking about modern society. She came from an era of advanced technology and had a lot of knowledge that people in this era had never heard of. If she could apply this knowledge here, she might be able to change the status quo and win a chance of survival.

An idea gradually became clear in her mind: she wanted to use modern knowledge to make some practical items and distribute them to the people to improve their lives and win their support!

With hope in her eyes, Wu Tao quickened her pace and walked into a cloth shop. She wanted to take the first step towards her plan, and this first step started with making a small object that was easy to learn but could improve people's lives...

As night fell, the candlelight in Wu Tao's room was still on. She worked at her desk, sewing pieces of cloth into shape with her needle and thread. Chun Tao helped her, her eyes full of worry and confusion.

"Girl, what did you make? Why is it so weird?"

Wu Tao stopped what he was doing and explained with a smile: "This is a mask. It can block wind, sand and germs and protect people's respiratory health."

Chun Tao nodded, not quite understanding, and looked at Wu Tao with admiration. In her eyes, Wu Tao seemed to be omnipotent, always able to come up with all kinds of wonderful ideas and make many new things that had never been heard of.

Just as Wu Tao was about to implement her plan and distribute the masks she made to the people, an anonymous letter was delivered to her. The letter contained only a few short lines, but it was like a basin of ice water, extinguishing the fire of hope that had just ignited in her heart:

"Wu Tao, I know what you are planning. I advise you to stay calm and don't act rashly, otherwise Hu Bugui's life will be in danger!" Wu Tao unfolded the letter. There were only a few lines of words hastily written on the thin paper. The handwriting was sloppy, but it was so strong that it penetrated the paper, as if it brought a piercing chill, making her feel like she was falling into an ice cave in an instant. The letter read: "Wu Tao, I know what you are planning. I advise you to stay calm and don't act rashly, otherwise Hu Bugui's life will be in danger!"

Who was it? Who was watching her every move in the dark? And who knew her plan so well? Wu Tao tightly grasped the paper, her knuckles turning white, and her heart was surging like a storm. There was no signature on the letter, but it accurately hit her soft spot - Hu Bugui. Could it be the imperial concubine? No, if it was the imperial concubine, she wouldn't have to go to such great lengths.

"Girl, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so bad?" Chuntao came in with a bowl of hot porridge. Seeing Wu Tao's pale face, she immediately asked worriedly.

Wu Tao took a deep breath, crumpled the letter into a ball, stuffed it into his sleeve, and forced a smile, "It's okay, I'm just a little tired."

"Miss, are you worried about Master Hu Bugui again?" Chun Tao put down her porridge bowl and asked worriedly, "Since Master Hu was demoted to a commoner, there has been no news from him. I don't know if he is doing well now..."

"He is a lucky man, nothing will happen to him." Wu Tao tried to cheer Chun Tao up, but she herself was unsure. After Hu Bugui was demoted to a commoner, he was sent to build the imperial mausoleum, which was a bitter and cold place, and he could lose his life if he was not careful. She had asked someone to inquire about Hu Bugui's news, but there was no news, as if he had disappeared from the face of the earth.

"Girl, don't worry, just drink some porridge." Chuntao scooped a spoonful of porridge and handed it to Wu Tao's mouth.

Wu Tao drank a few sips reluctantly, then put down his bowl and chopsticks, "I'm full, you eat."

Chuntao wanted to persuade him again, but was rejected by Wu Tao. She knew that Wu Tao was worried, so she said nothing more and quietly cleaned up the dishes.

Wu Tao sat alone in front of the window, looking at the dark night sky outside, feeling confused. The anonymous letter was like a sword hanging over her and Hu Bugui's heads, making her dare not act rashly. If she really did it according to her plan, would she really harm Hu Bugui? However, if she did nothing and let the imperial concubine and the prince manipulate her, what fate would she and Hu Bugui face?

Outside the window, the night wind whistled and the shadows of the trees swayed, as if countless pairs of eyes were hidden, peeping at this dilapidated courtyard. With the arrival of the anonymous letter, Wu Tao's heart once again fell into endless darkness and fear...