Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Chapter 188 The most urgent task is to stabilize the situation in the court

The atmosphere in the imperial study was so heavy that it seemed frozen. The emperor's anger, the queen's worry, and the solemnity between Hu Bugui's brows made Wu Tao's heart seem to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand.

"That's impossible," Wu Tao couldn't help but speak, breaking the suffocating silence. "When we made the plan, only a few people knew about it, and they were all people we could trust. How could it be leaked?"

Hu Bugui held her hand, gave her a soothing look, then turned to the emperor and said firmly: "Father, I believe that those who are innocent will be innocent, and those who are turbid will be turbid. As long as we don't give up, we will be able to find out the truth and bring those traitors to justice!"

The emperor looked at him with appreciation and said in a deep voice, "Okay! Bugui, I believe in you! Just go for it, I will give you my greatest support!"

"I thank you for your trust, father!" Hu Bugui clasped his fists and saluted.

After leaving the imperial study, Wu Tao was still filled with anxiety. Hu Buwei noticed her emotions, gently embraced her, and comforted her softly: "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

Wu Tao raised her head and looked at his resolute profile, a warm feeling welling up in her heart. Yes, no matter what difficulties she encountered, as long as he was by her side, she was not afraid of anything.

"What should we do next?" Wu Tao asked.

"The most urgent task is to stabilize the situation in the court," Hu Bugui said after a moment's silence. "Although Li Siyan has escaped, his followers are definitely still there. We must find them out as soon as possible, otherwise there will be endless troubles."

"But, we don't know who his accomplices are right now. How can we find them?" Wu Tao was a little worried.

A gleam of light flashed in Hu Bugui's eyes, and a confident smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Don't worry, I already have a plan..."

In order to avoid alerting the enemy, Hu Bugui and Wu Tao decided to act separately. Hu Bugui was responsible for stabilizing the situation in the court and calming people's hearts, while secretly investigating Li Siyan's accomplices. Wu Tao continued to track down Li Siyan's whereabouts and the secrets hidden behind him.

Although the two could not spend every day together, they would communicate with each other through secret codes every day to report their safety. Whenever it was late at night, Wu Tao would always think of Hu Bugui's warm embrace and firm eyes, and infinite strength would surge in her heart. She knew that for the sake of their love and the safety of the Tang Dynasty, she must persevere and find the truth.

During the investigation, Wu Tao accidentally discovered an important clue. She found a teahouse that Li Siyan often visited, and learned from the waiter that Li Siyan often met with a mysterious man in black there.

Who is this man in black? What is his relationship with Li Siyan? Is he the mastermind behind Li Siyan?

Wu Tao was filled with doubts and decided to continue the investigation. She believed that as long as she found the man in black, she would be able to solve all the mysteries...

 Through thick and thin (continued)

Wu Tao disguised herself and used the alias "Tao Niang" to wander around the teahouse every day, hoping to run into the man in black. However, for several days, the man in black seemed to have evaporated from the face of the earth and never appeared again.

Just when Wu Tao was about to give up, she noticed that a suspicious waiter would always appear at the back door of the teahouse. This waiter would always sneak in and out of the back door, and every time he appeared, he would deliberately avoid the crowd.

Wu Tao's woman's intuition told her that there must be something wrong with this guy!

So she found an opportunity and secretly followed the guy. She followed him all the way and found that the guy turned many corners and finally entered a seemingly ordinary house.

Wu Tao did not act rashly, but observed the area for a few days. She found that the house was deserted during the day, but very lively at night, with people coming in and out from time to time, and these people looked extraordinary.

Wu Tao secretly guessed in his heart that this might be Li Siyan’s secret base!

In order to further confirm her guess, Wu Tao decided to take the risk and sneak in. She used the cover of night to climb over the wall and enter the house.

Inside the house, there is a different world. It is actually a huge underground secret room, which is brightly lit and bustling with people.

Wu Tao hid in the dark and carefully observed everything here. She found that these people were sorting out various weapons and food, as if they were preparing for a big battle.

And in the deepest part of the secret room, Wu Tao saw a familiar figure - Li Siyan!

Li Siyan was conspiring with a man in a black cloak whose face could not be seen. Wu Tao pricked up his ears, trying to hear their conversation, but because the distance was too far, he could only hear some intermittent sounds.

"...The time has come..."

"...start a rebellion..."

"...Tang Dynasty..."

Wu Tao was shocked. It seemed that Li Siyan was really going to rebel!

She must pass this message to Hu Bugui as soon as possible!

At the same time, Hu Bugui also made significant progress. He used his influence to win the support of some ministers who had originally remained neutral. These ministers were all pillars of the Tang Dynasty and had a significant influence in the court.

With their support, Hu Bugui has the capital to compete with Li Siyan!

"Li Siyan, do you really think you can cover the sky with one hand?" Hu Bugui looked out the window, his eyes flashing with determination, "I will definitely stop your conspiracy and protect the country and people of the Tang Dynasty!"

However, just as Wu Tao was about to leave the secret room and pass on the message, she accidentally knocked over a vase beside her.

"Who?!"

A loud shout sounded, and everyone in the secret room looked towards Wu Tao vigilantly...

Wu Tao's heartbeat almost stopped, she held her breath, not daring to move. In the dim corner, she could feel a pair of sharp eyes sweeping over her, scraping across her skin like a blade.

"Come out!" the leader of the men in black shouted in a deep voice, with a barely perceptible hint of nervousness in his tone.

Wu Tao knew she was exposed, but she didn't panic. She slowly walked out of the shadows with a resolute smile on her face, "It's me."

The leader of the men in black looked Wu Tao up and down, with a hint of surprise in his eyes, "Who are you? Why did you trespass into our sect's important place?"

Wu Tao took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. "I have no ill intentions. I just happened to pass by here and wanted to stay for one night."

"Stay here for the night?" The leader of the men in black sneered, "Do you think we are fools? Tell me, who sent you?"

Wu Tao knew that she could no longer hide the truth, but she also could not tell the truth, otherwise it would bring disaster to Hu Bugui.

At this critical moment, there was a burst of hurried footsteps outside the door, followed by a familiar voice outside the door, "Tao Niang, are you in there?"

It was Hu Bugui! Wu Tao was delighted, but was immediately replaced by worry. How could he find this place? Was he also discovered?

The leader of the men in black apparently also heard the noise outside the door. He frowned and winked at the people around him.

With a "whoosh", a sharp arrow broke through the air and shot straight out the door.

"No!" Wu Tao exclaimed and rushed out desperately.

Outside the door, Hu Bugui was anxiously looking for Wu Tao. Suddenly, he saw Wu Tao rushing out of the house, and a sharp arrow was flying towards her chest.

"Tao Niang!" Hu Bugui's pupils suddenly shrank, and he rushed forward without thinking, hugged Wu Tao in his arms, and used his body to block the fatal arrow.

"Puff!" The sound of the sharp arrow piercing the flesh was clearly audible, and blood instantly dyed Hu Bugui's clothes red.

"Bugui!" Wu Tao widened his eyes in horror, watching Hu Bugui groan in pain, with a trace of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.

Hu Bugui endured the pain and shouted to his confidants who were rushing behind him, "Kill them all, leave no one alive!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hu Bugui's cronies rushed forward and started a desperate fight with the man in black.

Wu Tao hugged Hu Bugui tightly, tears blurring her eyes, "Why are you so stupid? Why did you come to save me?"

Hu Bugui smiled weakly, "Silly boy, if I don't come to save you, who will?"

He looked at Wu Tao affectionately, his eyes full of love and reluctance, "Niang Tao, promise me that you must live well..."

In the night, swords flashed, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and a war was about to break out...

Wu Tao's tears fell on Hu Bugui's face, and she could feel the temperature of his body disappearing bit by bit. "Don't be afraid, Tao Niang, I'll be fine..." Hu Bugui's voice became weaker and weaker, but he still held Wu Tao's hand tightly, as if he wanted to pass all his strength to her.

The confidants fought bravely and finally wiped out all the men in black. Although the battle was won, Hu Bugui also paid a heavy price. The arrow wound on his chest was very deep, and he lost too much blood and fell into a coma.

Wu Tao was extremely anxious and directed everyone to carry Hu Bugui back to the palace. The imperial doctors took turns to treat him, but they all shook their heads and sighed, saying that the situation was not optimistic.

The emperor and the empress rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing Hu Bugui lying on the bed, dying, they were heartbroken. The empress held Wu Tao's hand and comforted her, "Don't worry too much, Tao Niang. Bugui will be fine."

Wu Tao suppressed her grief and nodded. She knew that now was not the time to be sad, and she had to cheer up to help Hu Bugui overcome the difficulties.

However, they did not know that a bigger crisis was quietly approaching.

The leader of the treasonous organization was named Li Chongyi, who was once one of Hu Bugui's most trusted ministers. He was insidious and cunning, ambitious, and had always coveted the throne. This time he secretly colluded with foreign enemies in an attempt to overthrow the rule of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Chongyi was furious when he learned of Hu Bugui and Wu Tao's actions. He had originally planned to wait for Hu Bugui to leave the capital before launching a general attack, but he did not expect that they would ruin his plan.

"How dare you, Hu Bugui, ruin my plan!" Li Chongyi gritted his teeth and said, "Since you are looking for death, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

He decided to launch a general offensive ahead of schedule and was determined to capture the capital before Hu Bugui recovered.

As night fell, flames shot up into the sky outside the capital, and the shouts of killing were deafening. Li Chongyi led the rebels and launched a fierce attack on the capital.

Inside the palace, the emperor and empress were extremely anxious. They knew that the capital was in imminent danger. "What should we do? Is the country really going to be destroyed?" The empress was at a loss, and tears could not stop flowing down her face.

The emperor pretended to be calm and comforted her: "Queen, don't be afraid. I believe that he will find a way if Bugui doesn't return."

However, at this moment, Hu Bugui is still lying on the hospital bed, his life or death uncertain. Can the capital really wait until he wakes up?