Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Chapter 120 Happy Life

The triumphant troops returned in a mighty procession, and the people lined the streets to welcome them with deafening cheers. However, amid the jubilation, there was a pair of sinister eyes, watching all this coldly.

The owner of these eyes is the prime minister of the dynasty and a strong contender for the position of crown prince - Li Si. He looked at the high-spirited Hu Bugui and was burning with jealousy. This time Hu Bugui had made great military achievements and his reputation had risen to a higher level, which was undoubtedly a huge threat to Li Si.

"Your Highness, Hu Bugui is now more powerful than you, so we must be on guard against him!" Li Si's confidant whispered in his ear.

Li Si smiled coldly, with a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes, "Don't worry, I have my own way to deal with him."

After returning to the capital, Hu Bugui and Wu Tao were warmly welcomed by the emperor and the empress. The emperor praised Hu Bugui highly and immediately issued an edict to make him the crown prince and granted him a luxurious mansion as his and Wu Tao's new home.

"Bugui, your father values you so much, you must assist him and govern the country well." The queen held Hu Bugui's hand and said earnestly.

"Your son will always remember your mother's teachings." Hu Bugui replied respectfully.

Wu Tao stood aside, watching everything in front of her, feeling a lot of emotions in her heart. From a modern girl to the current Crown Princess, her life has changed dramatically. However, she was not dazzled by the glory and wealth in front of her. She knew that she had more important things to do.

After moving into the new mansion, Wu Tao began to decorate their new home. She used her modern knowledge to introduce some novel designs and decorations into the mansion. She had a fountain built in the garden, and the water gushed out, sparkling in the sun. She also had glass windows installed in the room to allow sunlight to shine in better, making the whole room brighter and more transparent.

Hu Bugui looked at Wu Tao's busy figure, his eyes full of pampering and love. He knew that everything Wu Tao did was to make him live more comfortably and to make their home more cozy.

"Tao'er, thank you for your hard work." Hu Bugui walked to Wu Tao and gently held her in his arms.

Wu Tao raised her head and looked at Hu Bugui, her eyes filled with a happy smile, "It's not hard, as long as you like it."

However, behind this seemingly peaceful and happy life, there is a shadow of uneasiness. Li Si did not give up on dealing with Hu Bugui. He secretly recruited troops and prepared to take action when the opportunity arose...

 Chapter 120: A Beautiful Moon

Moving into the Prince's mansion was only the beginning of their happy life, not the end, for Wu Tao and Hu Bugui. Before the sweetness of their newlywed life faded, the responsibility of governing the country and maintaining peace fell on their shoulders.

Hu Bugui knew that his achievements today were not only due to his own efforts, but also to the trust and support of the emperor. He was determined to live up to expectations and do his best to assist the emperor and benefit the people. With the support of the emperor, Hu Bugui began to implement a series of reform measures. He knew the sufferings of the people, and the first thing he did was to reduce taxes so that the people could keep more food and recuperate. At the same time, he also encouraged the development of agricultural production, the construction of water conservancy, and the promotion of advanced farming techniques, so that grain production increased year by year.

In addition to material prosperity, Hu Bugui also attached great importance to the spiritual life of the people. He knew that "when the granaries are full, people will know etiquette", and only when people live a stable life can they better learn and pass on culture. Therefore, he vigorously established schools, encouraged people to read and learn, and personally participated in compiling teaching materials, hoping to change people's fate with knowledge.

Although Wu Tao was in the harem, she was concerned about the country. She used her modern knowledge to help Hu Bugui make plans and played an important role in the reform process. She also often accompanied Hu Bugui on incognito visits to understand the people's sentiments and promptly reported the people's sufferings to Hu Bugui so that he could formulate better policies.

With the joint efforts of the two, the country gradually became prosperous. The people lived and worked in peace and contentment, no one picked up lost items on the road, and no one locked their doors at night, creating a thriving scene.

In addition to government affairs, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui also actively participated in court life. They often attended court banquets and social events together, chatting and laughing with royal family members, ministers and nobles. Wu Tao's intelligence, elegant conversation, and the various new experiences she brought were all refreshing and won everyone's praise and respect. Hu Bugui's humor and gentleness also won him a lot of favor.

At a palace banquet, Wu Tao met several princesses and consorts of similar age. They were full of curiosity about Wu Tao, the crown princess from a "foreign land", and surrounded her to ask various questions. Wu Tao was also very talkative, and she told interesting stories about her life in modern society, which amazed everyone.

This banquet became an important turning point in Wu Tao's life in the palace. She began to gradually integrate into this era, make friends, and expand her social circle. All of this laid the groundwork for her to live more comfortably in the palace in the future...

……(previous text omitted)……

"The Crown Princess is truly knowledgeable and talented, with extraordinary insights." A princess exclaimed sincerely.

"Yes, I heard that Your Majesty can predict the weather. I wonder if it is true?" another princess asked curiously.

Wu Tao smiled slightly and explained, "That's just my speculation based on some natural phenomena. It can't be considered a prediction."

Although Wu Tao explained modestly, her erudition and wit left a deep impression on these royal relatives. After the banquet, several princesses and consorts took the initiative to invite Wu Tao to their homes, and Wu Tao gladly agreed.

From then on, Wu Tao began to frequently interact with these royal ladies. They learned music, chess, calligraphy and painting together, exchanged experiences, and their lives became more colorful. Wu Tao was surprised to find that these seemingly pampered princesses actually had their own troubles and pursuits. Some of them longed for true love, some hoped to display their talents, and some were tired of court life and wanted to live a free life.

Wu Tao infected everyone around her with her sincerity and optimism, and she also learned a lot from these friends. She began to understand that even in this deep palace, she could still live a wonderful life.

While Hu Bugui was handling government affairs, he never forgot to accompany Wu Tao. Together they strolled in the garden, admiring the moonlight and enjoying the rare tranquility and happiness.

"Tao'er, thank you." Hu Bugui looked at Wu Tao affectionately, his eyes full of tenderness.

"Thank me for what?" Wu Tao was a little confused.

"Thank you for coming to my side and bringing so much joy and meaning to my life." Hu Bugui gently embraced Wu Tao in his arms and whispered in her ear, "I love you, Tao'er."

Wu Tao snuggled in Hu Bugui's arms, feeling his warmth and love, her heart filled with happiness and satisfaction.

However, just when everything seemed perfect, an anonymous letter suddenly appeared in Hu Bugui's study, suggesting that a conspiracy against him was brewing...

Moving into the Prince's Mansion was just the beginning of their happy life, not the end, for Wu Tao and Hu Bugui. Before the sweetness of the newlyweds faded, the responsibility of governing the country fell on their shoulders. Wu Tao used her modern knowledge to actively give advice to Hu Bugui. She suggested building water conservancy projects, developing agriculture, and reducing taxes for the people, which received strong support from the emperor. Hu Bugui also worked hard to govern the country, rectify the administration of officials, and severely punish corrupt officials, making the court and the country look brand new.

However, just when everything seemed perfect, an anonymous letter suddenly appeared in Hu Bugui's study. In the dead of night, Hu Bugui was alone in his study reviewing memorials. By candlelight, he opened the unsigned letter. The handwriting on the letter was sloppy, but it could not conceal the malice revealed in it, and the content was even more chilling. The letter hinted that a conspiracy against Hu Bugui was brewing in secret, and if it was not stopped in time, the consequences would be disastrous.

Hu Bugui's face suddenly darkened. He tightly grasped the letter in his hand, and his knuckles turned slightly white due to excessive force. He knew that his peaceful life might be broken soon, and danger was approaching quietly. He brought the letter close to the candlelight, letting the dancing flames devour it completely, as if to burn the hidden threat in the dark.

"What's wrong?" Wu Tao walked into the study room carrying the soup she had cooked herself, but saw Hu Bugui's solemn expression.

Hu Bugui took Wu Tao into his arms and said softly, "It's okay, we just encountered some tricky things." He didn't want to make Wu Tao worry, but he also knew that some things could not be hidden forever.

Wu Tao noticed that Hu Bugui was acting strangely and asked with concern, "Are you really okay? You look worried."

Hu Bugui took a deep breath. He knew he could not hide it any longer, so he told Wu Tao about the anonymous letter.

After listening to Hu Bugui's story, Wu Tao couldn't help but frown. They realized that their happy life might be facing new challenges, but they decided to face it together and never back down.