Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Chapter 118 A talented man and a beautiful woman

In the prime minister's mansion with carved beams and painted buildings, there were sounds of stringed instruments, elegant ladies and a prosperous and lively scene. Hu Bugui and Wu Tao walked into the banquet hand in hand, and immediately attracted a lot of attention.

Wu Tao was wearing a light purple skirt with delicate peach blossoms embroidered on the hem, and she looked like a lotus flower as she walked. She was already very pretty, and now that she was dressed up, she looked even more beautiful. Hu Bugui was wearing a dark brocade robe with a jade pendant on his waist, which made him look even more handsome and imposing.

The two of them were a perfect match, and the guests around them were talking about them. However, in these seemingly admiring eyes, there was a hint of something strange, as if they were hiding some mockery and disdain.

Hu Bugui and Wu Tao looked at each other and understood. It would not be easy for the Prime Minister to escape from this Hongmen Banquet.

Sure enough, as soon as the two of them sat down, the prime minister came over with a wine glass in his hand, smiling. He first exchanged a few words of politeness, then changed the subject and said with a fake smile: "Your Highness, I heard that you have made great achievements in the court recently. You are really young and promising!"

Hu Bugui smiled faintly and replied in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Your Excellency, I am too kind. I am just trying my best to assist the emperor and seek the welfare of the people."

"Your Highness is right, that's right." The Prime Minister gave him a meaningful look and continued, "However, I have also heard some rumors that Your Highness is acting too radically and too hastily."

As soon as he finished speaking, the officials around him echoed him and started discussing the matter one after another.

"Yes, the prince is young after all, so it is better to be cautious in doing things."

"Young people are always impulsive."

"Your Majesty, please listen more to the opinions of your senior officials and don't act on your own."

These words seem to be well-intentioned reminders, but in fact they are full of thorns, implying that Hu Bugui is young and hot-tempered and does not understand the rules of the court.

Wu Tao sat aside, taking in all the faces of these people, sneering in his heart. These people seemed respectful on the surface, but in fact they just wanted to take advantage of Hu Bugui's youth to suppress him.

Hu Bugui remained calm and responded calmly. He knew very well that today's banquet was a Hongmen Banquet targeting him. These people were all the prime minister's followers, deliberately taking the opportunity to make trouble, wanting to make him look bad in front of everyone and thus undermine his prestige.

Faced with these people's difficulties, Hu Bugui and Wu Tao tried their best to deal with them, but faced with so much malice, they felt exhausted physically and mentally. Wu Tao looked at this group of hypocritical officials in front of him, and a sense of powerlessness rose in his heart. Is this the court? It is full of intrigues and scheming.

And can she, a woman from the modern era, really survive in this era? Can she really help Hu Bugui?

For the first time, Wu Tao felt deep self-doubt in his heart.

Faced with the overwhelming doubts and ridicules, Hu Bugui calmly resolved them one by one. He quoted classics and explained his political views in detail, his words full of confidence and strength. Wu Tao listened quietly at the side, secretly admiring his intelligence and courage.

However, two fists cannot defeat four hands. Although Hu Bugui was eloquent, those officials were like leeches on his tarsal bones, constantly finding faults and making things difficult for him. They seized on his weakness of being young and inexperienced, wantonly attacked and belittled his achievements, and even imposed some unwarranted charges on him.

The atmosphere at the banquet became more and more oppressive, and Wu Tao felt her breathing become rapid. She tightly grasped the handkerchief in her hand, and her palms were full of sweat. She wanted to do something, wanted to help Hu Bugui, but she was powerless. She was just an ordinary woman, who did not understand the intrigues in the court, and had no ability to compete with these powerful people.

The banquet finally ended, and Hu Bugui and Wu Tao dragged their exhausted bodies back to the palace. Along the way, both of them were silent. As night fell and the lights came on, the garden of the palace was silent. Wu Tao sat alone on a stone bench by the pond, looking at the swaying moonlight in the water, his heart filled with confusion and helplessness.

"What's wrong?" Hu Bugui's voice sounded behind him, gentle and concerned.

Wu Tao turned around and looked at the man in front of him, her eyes moistened. His handsome face was full of fatigue, but his eyes were still firm and warm.

"I just..." Wu Tao opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say. She wanted to tell him that she was scared. She was afraid that she couldn't help him and would become a burden to him. But she didn't dare to say it out loud. She was afraid that her weakness would make him more worried.

"I know what you're thinking." Hu Bugui walked over to her and sat down, gently holding her in his arms. "Don't worry, I will take care of everything."

"But..." Wu Tao raised her head and looked at him, "Can we really change all this?"

Hu Bugui was silent, with a complicated look in his eyes. He knew that Wu Tao's suspicion was not unreasonable. What they were facing was a deep-rooted feudal force and a complex interest group. How easy would it be to change all this?

"I don't know." Hu Bugui's voice was low and hoarse, "But I will definitely do my best."

Wu Tao didn't say anything else. She buried her head in his arms, feeling his warm embrace. She knew that no matter how difficult the road ahead was, she would stay by his side and face it with him.

However, in a place that Hu Bugui couldn't see, Wu Tao's eyes revealed a trace of deep confusion. She began to doubt her identity as a time traveler and everything she had done. Can she really change this era? Can she really help Hu Bugui?

Hu Bugui embraced Wu Tao, feeling her soft body, but his heart felt like a huge rock was pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe. He knew the road ahead would be difficult, but the open and covert attacks of those old foxes in the court made him doubt his ability for the first time. Could he really be qualified to be the crown prince and lead the country to prosperity?

He thought of his father's last words before his death, and the expectant eyes of the people, and a deep sense of powerlessness surged in his heart. He had never longed for power as much as he did now, longing for the power to control everything.

"Taotao," Hu Bugui's voice was a little hoarse, "Tell me, did I do something wrong?"

Wu Tao raised her head from his arms and looked at his tired eyes, feeling distressed. She knew that he was under tremendous pressure, but she could only watch him bear it all alone.

"No, you're not wrong!" Wu Tao held his hand and said firmly, "You're just too tired. Those ministers are taking advantage of their seniority and deliberately making things difficult for you."

"But..." Hu Bugui hesitated to speak. He wanted to say that he was worried that he had failed his father's expectations, worried that he would not be able to protect Wu Tao, and worried that he would not be able to bring peace and prosperity to the people.

Wu Tao seemed to see through his thoughts. She gently placed her finger on his lips to stop him from continuing. "I believe you," she said with a firm light in her eyes, "You can do it."

Hu Bugui looked into her eyes, and the dull feeling in his heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a warm power. He knew that no matter what happened, he would not fight alone, because he still had Wu Tao, and her love and support.

The two of them snuggled together, quietly feeling each other's warmth. As the night deepened, the moonlight poured down like water, stretching their figures to be particularly slender.

"Taotao," Hu Bugui broke the silence, "Tell me, can we really change this era?"

Wu Tao did not answer. She herself could not give an answer to this question. She came from a world thousands of years later and had seen the progress of science and technology and the changes in society. However, facing this unfamiliar era, she felt unprecedented confusion.

"I don't know," Wu Tao's voice was very soft but very firm, "but I will be by your side and face it together."

Hu Bugui held her in his arms, his heart filled with emotion. He knew that no matter what the future held, he would not regret his choice, because he already had the most precious thing in the world - love.

However, just as they were immersed in their love for each other, a hurried knock on the door broke the tranquility of the night.

"Your Highness, it's urgent!" The guard's voice was a little flustered.

Hu Bugui and Wu Tao felt their hearts tighten at the same time, and an ominous premonition came to their minds.

"Urgent news from the border!" The guard handed over a dusty letter and said in a hurry, "The northern border... the northern border has been invaded by foreign enemies again, the situation is critical!"

Hu Bugui took the letter, unfolded it, and his face suddenly turned livid. He stood up suddenly, with a sharp light in his eyes. The storm was coming, and their brief tranquility was finally broken... Hu Bugui's hand holding the letter trembled slightly, and every word on the letter was like a sharp knife, piercing his heart fiercely. The border was in danger, the war was reignited, and he, the new prince who had just been placed with high hopes, was still troubled by the open and secret struggles in the court. He felt extremely remorseful and ashamed.

Wu Tao also realized the seriousness of the matter. She reached out and held Hu Bugui's hand, and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Hu Bugui took a deep breath, trying to calm his surging emotions, and handed the letter to Wu Tao, "Urgent news from the border, fighting has broken out in the northern border again."

Wu Tao took the letter and quickly read it, frowning. The letter said that the barbarians in the northern border had invaded again, and the border guards fought desperately, but the enemy was outnumbered and the situation was precarious, so they requested the court to send troops to support them as soon as possible.

"How could this happen?" Wu Tao murmured to himself, his tone full of worry.

"It seems that we have to face new challenges again." Hu Bugui said in a deep voice, with a hint of helplessness in his tone, but more of determination.

He placed the letter on the table, walked to the window, and looked out at the dark night sky, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. The border war broke out again, which was undoubtedly a double whammy for the precarious Tang Dynasty. And he, as the heir to the Tang Dynasty, had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of defending the country.

Wu Tao walked to his side, gently held his hand, and silently gave him strength. She knew that what Hu Bugui needed at this moment was not comfort, but support and encouragement.

"Don't worry, we will face it together." Wu Tao said softly, his tone firm and powerful.

Hu Bugui turned his head and looked at Wu Tao's determined eyes, and a warm current surged in his heart. Yes, no matter how difficult the road ahead is, he will not fight alone, because he still has Wu Tao and the home they protect together.

"Taotao, thank you." Hu Bugui held Wu Tao's hand tightly, his eyes full of gratitude and love.

"Silly boy, do we still need to say thank you to each other?" Wu Tao said with a smile, with a gentle smile in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows.

Outside the window, the night was dark and the wind was cold, but Hu Bugui and Wu Tao's hearts were full of warmth and strength. They knew that a bigger storm was coming, and they were ready to meet the challenge.

The war at the border closely links their fates and will also become a touchstone of their love. Can they defeat the powerful enemy and protect their homeland? Where will their love go?