Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Chapter 203 Qing Ping Le

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui walked side by side on the streets of Chang'an. The crowds were bustling, but the warm atmosphere between the two was not broken at all. The people spontaneously made way for them, their eyes full of admiration and love for them. Occasionally, a brave child ran up, holding bright flowers in his hands, and said words of blessing in a baby voice, in return for Wu Tao's gentle smile and Hu Bugui's affectionate touch.

"I never thought that we could live such an ordinary life." Wu Tao sighed. She looked up at the clear sky, without a single cloud, as if all the previous haze had disappeared.

"Yes," Hu Bugui looked at her affectionately, "all this is thanks to you, my princess."

Wu Tao rolled her eyes at him playfully, "Why, now you know how powerful I am?"

"I've always known," Hu Bugui held her hand, interlocking their fingers, "you are the smartest and bravest woman in my heart."

The two looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.

As they walked, a melodious sound of a zither attracted their attention. They followed the sound and came to a busy teahouse. The teahouse was full of people. An old man was playing the zither on the stage. The sound of the zither was sometimes soothing like a flowing spring, and sometimes exciting like a war drum, which made everyone listen in fascination.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui found a corner seat, ordered two cups of tea, and listened quietly. The sound of the piano seemed to have a magical power, bringing them back to that thrilling and romantic journey. They remembered the tense situation when they first met, the life-and-death dependence when they fought side by side, and the firm vows when they made promises to each other...

When the song ended, there was thunderous applause. Wu Tao and Hu Bugui also applauded, feeling deeply moved.

"Do you remember the scene when we first met?" Wu Tao suddenly asked.

"Of course I remember," Hu Bugui said with a nostalgic smile, "Back then, you were like a kitten with its fur standing on end, covered in thorns."

"You're still talking!" Wu Tao glared at him in reproach, "Who told you to always doubt me back then?"

"I..." Hu Bugui was about to explain but was interrupted by Wu Tao.

"Okay, it's all over. I'm your princess now, so you have to treat me well."

"Of course," Hu Bugui looked at her lovingly, "but..."

He deliberately prolonged his voice, with a sly gleam in his eyes.

"But what?" Wu Tao asked curiously.

"But..." Hu Bugui leaned close to her ear and whispered, "The farmland outside the city should be full of life, right?"

Wu Tao was stunned at first, then he understood what he meant and nodded with a smile.

Wu Tao naturally understood what Hu Bugui meant. As the guardians of the Tang Dynasty, they should not only pay attention to the affairs of the court, but also care about the people. This coincides with the "people-oriented" concept advocated by the modern society where she comes from.

"Let's go," Wu Tao stood up and took Hu Bugui's hand, "Let's go see those hardworking farmers and see the foundation of this peaceful and prosperous era."

The two men walked out of the teahouse, mounted their horses, and galloped out of the city.

Under the warm spring sun, in the vast fields, farmers are bending over, diligently sowing the seeds of hope. The sweat on their foreheads drips on the fertile land, as if telling of their expectation for a good harvest in the future.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui slowed down their horses and quietly observed the vibrant scene. They did not disturb anyone, but just silently felt the tranquility and peace.

"Look, the smiles on their faces are joy from the bottom of their hearts." Wu Tao said softly. She seemed to be able to feel the farmers' love for life and their longing for the future.

"Yes," Hu Bugui nodded, "Only when the people live and work in peace and contentment can the country be stable and peaceful for a long time."

The two men dismounted and walked to the edge of the field. An old farmer saw them and was startled at first, then he recognized their identities and quickly put down the farm tools in his hands and saluted respectfully, "I greet the prince and princess."

"Don't be so polite, old man," Wu Tao quickly helped the old farmer up, "We are here to experience the fun of farming. Don't worry about us, just continue with your work."

"Yes," Hu Bugui also said with a smile, "We also want to contribute to this land."

The old farmer was moved by their approachable attitude and stopped refusing. He taught them how to sow and apply fertilizer.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui learned in an earnest manner. Although their movements were a little unfamiliar, their serious and focused look won unanimous praise from the farmers around them.

As the sun sets, the golden light falls on the fields, dyeing everything with a warm color. Wu Tao and Hu Bugui put down their farm tools and looked at the land that was about to give birth to new life, their hearts filled with hope and emotion.

"Let's go to the small pavilion over there and take a rest." Wu Tao said, pointing to a small pavilion beside the field not far away.

"Okay." Hu Bugui nodded, but his eyes fell on Wu Tao meaningfully, "The moonlight tonight should be beautiful..."

The sunset glows like a painting, dyeing the western sky a brilliant orange-red, and the fields are shrouded in a soft halo. In the distance, the smoke from several households rises, bringing a bit of the flavor of human life, adding a bit of interest to this quiet rural scenery.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui sat side by side in a small pavilion beside the field, with simple farm meals placed in front of them, and the aroma was fragrant. Although it was not as good as the delicacies from the mountains and sea in the palace, it was a different experience in this quiet field, accompanied by the gentle breeze.

"I didn't expect this simple meal to be so delicious." Wu Tao took a sip and couldn't help but exclaimed. Perhaps it was because of today's work that her appetite was so good that the vegetables that she usually didn't eat were particularly delicious today.

Hu Bugui looked at Wu Tao with a smile on his face, "You helped a lot today. The old farmers all praised you for your cleverness and dexterity."

Wu Tao put down her bowl and chopsticks, held up her chin, and her eyes drifted toward the twinkling stars in the distance. "Do you know? Where I come from, there are a lot of strange and weird things..." She suddenly remembered all the interesting things in modern life, and told them to Hu Bugui with great interest.

From the towering skyscrapers to the endless stream of cars, from the convenient and fast Internet world to the wonderful film and television works, Wu Tao used vivid language to paint a wonderful picture of the future world for Hu Bugui.

Hu Bugui was still not satisfied, sometimes showing a surprised expression, sometimes laughing out loud. The world described by Wu Tao was so new and interesting to him, but also hard to imagine.

"If it's really as you said, it's really a magical world." Hu Bugui sighed, "It's a pity that I can't see it with my own eyes."

"Maybe there will be a chance in the future." Wu Tao blinked mysteriously, with a hint of mischief in his tone.

As the night deepened, a bright moon hung high in the sky, casting a clear light. After dinner, the two were about to leave for the palace.

"Your Highness, Princess, this is a little gift from the villagers. Thank you for your help today." An old farmer came over carrying a basket of fresh fruits and vegetables, his face full of gratitude.

"Old man, this is so embarrassing..." Wu Tao quickly declined.

"This is a little gift from us, please accept it." The old farmer insisted on handing the basket to them.

Seeing this, Hu Bugui took the basket and said, "Old man, we appreciate your kindness, but it's getting late, so we should go back."

Just as they were about to mount their horses, a guard came over quickly and handed Hu Bugui a letter with a serious look, "Your Majesty, an urgent secret letter."

Hu Bugui took the letter, opened it, and his expression suddenly became serious...

Hu Bugui's face flickered in the light of the fire. Every word on the letter seemed to carry a heavy weight, weighing heavily on his heart. Seeing this, Wu Tao also put away his relaxed expression and asked worriedly, "What's wrong? Did something happen in the palace?"

Hu Bugui handed the letter to Wu Tao and said in a deep voice, "Take a look."

Wu Tao took the letter and read it carefully in the moonlight. The content of the letter was not long, but it was disturbing. The letter mentioned that a mysterious organization called "Shadow" had appeared near the capital recently. They were secretive, had high martial arts skills, and had unknown purposes. They seemed to be plotting something big. What was even more worrying was that the letter also mentioned that the target of "Shadow" seemed to be related to Hu Bugui and Wu Tao.

After reading the letter, Wu Tao's heart was also shrouded in a shadow, but she quickly calmed down and handed the letter back to Hu Bugui, "It seems that our peaceful days are coming to an end again."

Hu Bugui took the letter and nodded solemnly, "It seems so. The origin and purpose of this 'Shadow' organization are unknown, so we must be careful in dealing with it." He paused, glanced at the guards and villagers around him, and said to Wu Tao in a low voice, "This matter is of great importance, so let's not make it public for now, and make plans after returning to the palace."

Wu Tao understood Hu Bugui's concerns and nodded gently. After saying goodbye to the villagers, they mounted their horses and galloped towards the palace under the cover of night.

Along the way, both of them remained silent, each thinking about their own things. Wu Tao's heart was full of doubts and uneasiness. She didn't know what the "Shadow" organization was, nor did she know why they were targeting her and Hu Bugui. Was it because of their identities? Or was it because they knew some secrets that they shouldn't know?

Hu Bugui was also worried. He understood the cruelty and complexity of the world better than Wu Tao, and also knew what the word "shadow" meant. He felt that a bigger storm was brewing, and he and Wu Tao were likely to be the center of the storm.

As the night deepened, the outline of the palace gradually became clearer in the distance. When they arrived in front of the palace gate, Hu Bugui suddenly stopped his horse and turned to look at Wu Tao, with a firm light in his eyes, "Taotao, no matter what happens, I will protect you."

Wu Tao looked into Hu Bugui's deep eyes, and a warm feeling surged in her heart. She nodded gently, "I believe you."

The two men smiled at each other, rode their horses into the palace, leaving only the silent night behind them.