Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Chapter 165: Flying together in pairs, growing old together

Li Xiaoyao's uneasiness was not groundless. Although the border had been pacified, the remnants of Tuoba Lie were still stirring in the dark, and there were sporadic battles in the border areas from time to time. If the hidden dangers were to be completely eliminated, a long period of governance and appeasement would be needed.

However, Li Xiaoyao did not mention these worries. At this moment, he just wanted to share this hard-earned joy with his friends. He raised his glass and said to Hu Bugui and Wu Tao: "Congratulations, from now on, you will fly together and grow old together!"

Hu Bugui smiled back, his eyes full of tenderness: "Xiaoyao, you have made an indelible contribution to today's peace. This glass of wine is in your honor!"

Wu Tao also raised his glass, his eyes full of gratitude: "Brother Li, thank you for your help all the time. Tao'er toasts you a glass."

The three drank it all in one gulp, their hearts full of emotion. Recalling the thrills and twists and turns when they first met, the peace and happiness now seem even more precious.

Under Hu Bugui's governance, the country gradually recovered. The people walked out of the shadow of war and lived a peaceful and prosperous life again. In the fields, the golden wheat waves rolled in the wind, foreshadowing the joy of a good harvest; in the market, the vendors' cries rose and fell, making the place lively and bustling.

Spring passed and autumn came, and in the blink of an eye, it was the day for Hu Bugui and Wu Tao to get married.

On that day, Chang'an City became a sea of joy. The streets were decorated with lanterns and colorful lights, gongs and drums were beating, and the people spontaneously poured into the streets to see the elegance of this grand wedding.

The wedding was held in the Prince's Mansion, and the guests gathered and it was very lively. The emperor came in person to send his blessings to the newlyweds. Civil and military officials, princes and nobles, and chivalrous men came to congratulate and send their most sincere blessings.

Wu Tao, wearing a bright red wedding dress and a phoenix crown on her head, walked into the wedding hall with the help of the bridesmaid. She had bright eyes and white teeth, and looked so radiant that she looked like a goddess from heaven descending to earth, so beautiful that nothing could compare.

Hu Bugui was dressed in a red auspicious robe, with an upright posture, a handsome face, and eyes full of doting and love. Looking at Wu Tao who was approaching him, the corners of his mouth unconsciously raised in an arc of happiness.

After the wedding ceremony, the guests sat down one after another, toasting each other and chatting happily. Li Xiaoyao stood side by side with the general who had gone through life and death with Hu Bugui, looking at the happy scene in front of him, feeling a lot of emotions in his heart.

"This prosperous age is what you wish for." Li Xiaoyao raised his glass and whispered to Hu Bugui.

"Yes, this peaceful and prosperous era is what we all protect together." Hu Bugui raised his glass and clinked it with Li Xiaoyao's, his eyes firm.

He knew that the road ahead was still long and they would face many challenges, but as long as they worked together, they would be able to protect the hard-earned peace and happiness.

Li Xiaoyao and the general who had fought with Hu Bugui through thick and thin stood side by side, looking at the happy scene in front of them, with a thousand emotions in their hearts. Both of them were strong men, but at this moment, tears welled up in their eyes.

"This prosperous age is just as you wished." Li Xiaoyao raised his wine glass and whispered to Hu Bugui, his tone containing some relief and some admiration.

"Yes, this peaceful and prosperous world is what we jointly protect." Hu Bugui raised his glass and clinked it with Li Xiaoyao, his eyes firm and his tone sonorous. "From now on, we must shoulder this responsibility and protect this hard-earned peace and happiness."

The general also raised his glass and said with a heroic smile: "Well said! For the people, for the country of Tang, let's drink!"

The three drank the wine in one gulp, full of passion. They had fought side by side on the battlefield and argued in the court. Now, they promised to continue to work together in the future and contribute their own strength to the peace of this land.

After marriage, Hu Bugui and Wu Tao did not indulge in their own world, but paid more attention to the suffering of the people. They knew that the people's peaceful and happy life was the foundation of the country's long-term stability. Therefore, they often visited the fields in disguise to understand the living conditions of the people and listen to their voices.

Once, they came to a small village outside the city and saw that the fields were dry, the crops were withered, and the people were worried. After asking, they found out that there was little rain this year, the river was dry, and the farmland could not be irrigated.

"What should we do? If it continues like this, I'm afraid we'll have no harvest this year!" An old farmer said worriedly, looking at the cracked land.

"Yes, if there is no harvest, how can our family survive?" Another villager also sighed.

Seeing the anxious look of the people, Wu Tao felt very sad. She thought of the agricultural knowledge she had learned in modern society, which might help them solve the current predicament.

"Husband, I have thought of a way that may be able to solve the water problem." Wu Tao whispered in Hu Bugui's ear.

After hearing Wu Tao's idea, Hu Bugui's eyes lit up: "Good idea! We can give it a try!"

So, under the organization of Hu Bugui, the villagers began to dig wells and build canals near the village according to Wu Tao's suggestions. After a period of hard work, clear well water finally gushed out, flowed into the dry fields, and moistened the thirsty crops.

Seeing this scene, the villagers were ecstatic and knelt down to Hu Bugui and Wu Tao to thank them for bringing hope.

"Thank you, Your Highness, and thank you, Your Highness!"

"You are our saviors!"

Seeing the grateful eyes of the people, Wu Tao was deeply moved. She realized that she came to this world not only to gain love, but more importantly, she could use her own strength to help more people in need.

This also laid the groundwork for her to open a charity school in Chang'an and teach children of ordinary people to read and write...

Wu Tao witnessed the plight of the people who could not change their fate because of their limited literacy, and she felt mixed emotions. After returning to Chang'an, she could not calm down for a long time, and the expectant eyes of the villagers kept appearing in her mind.

"Tao'er, what are you thinking about?" After reviewing the memorials, Hu Bugui saw Wu Tao sitting by the window with a frown on her face. He put down what he was doing and walked over to her.

Wu Tao turned to look at Hu Bugui and told him what he had seen and heard outside the city. Finally, he said, "We can't always rely on God's will. The people need the ability to save themselves, and knowledge is their best weapon to change their fate."

Hu Bugui agreed with this. He held Wu Tao's hand and said softly, "Tao'er cares about the people. I support you. Go ahead and do whatever you want."

With Hu Bugui's support, Wu Tao became more determined. She used her knowledge from the modern times and combined it with the actual situation of the Tang Dynasty to start planning to build a charity school for children of ordinary people.

Wu Tao personally took care of everything, including site selection, enrollment, and teacher recruitment. In order to enable more poor children to read and learn, she established a free enrollment system and set up scholarships to encourage students to study hard.

As the news spread, people rushed to tell each other and sent their children to sign up. Looking at the eager faces of the children, Wu Tao's heart was filled with hope.

On the first day of class, Wu Tao came to the school in person and watched the children sitting in the classroom, listening carefully to the teacher's lectures. She was filled with emotion. She believed that these children were the hope of the future of the Tang Dynasty.

At the same time, Hu Bugui also began to implement a series of reform measures in the court. He knew that only when the country was strong could the people live and work in peace. He withstood the pressure, rectified the administration, reduced taxes, vigorously developed agriculture and commerce, and strengthened national defense construction to improve the combat effectiveness of the army.

His efforts were not in vain. After the war, the Tang Dynasty's economy gradually recovered, the country became stronger, and the people's lives improved. However, under the calm surface, there seemed to be an unknown undercurrent...

 Chapter 165 Peaceful Years

After several years, the Tang Dynasty prospered under Hu Bugui's governance. 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. It was a prosperous time. The good deeds of Hu Bugui and Wu Tao were also loved by the people. The charity school cultivated batches of outstanding talents. Some of them entered the court to seek welfare for the people; some returned to their hometowns to spread knowledge to more distant places. Whenever Wu Tao saw this, her heart was filled with satisfaction. She knew that everything she did was worth it.

On this day, outside Chang'an City, peach blossoms were in full bloom, covering the mountains and plains like a pink sea of clouds. Wu Tao and Hu Bugui stood side by side, admiring the beautiful scenery.

"Tao'er, do you remember that we first met in this peach blossom forest?" Hu Bugui gently stroked Wu Tao's hair, his eyes full of tenderness.

Wu Tao smiled and nodded. At that time, she was still a stranger who had just arrived in a new place, full of confusion and fear about the future. It was Hu Bugui who gave her warmth and support, allowing her to find a home in this strange era.

"Tao'er, thank you, thank you for coming to my side." Hu Bugui looked at Wu Tao affectionately and held her in his arms.

"No, I should thank you. Thank you for making me a better person." Wu Tao leaned her head gently on Hu Bugui's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, her heart filled with happiness.

In the distance, Li Xiaoyao was leading his horse, looking at the couple with a pleased smile on his face. He tied the horse under a peach tree and took out a bamboo flute from his arms. The melodious sound of the flute echoed in the valley, as if telling the story of the couple who had gone through hardships and finally got married.

"General, are we going to wait here?" asked a young soldier. The general he was referring to was Hu Bugui's good friend and the patron saint of the Tang Dynasty.

The general looked at Hu Bugui and Wu Tao in the distance and smiled: "No hurry, let them enjoy this moment of peace."

However, no one knows how long this peace can last. Outside the border, an ambitious small country is preparing for war, and their eyes have already set on the rich Tang Dynasty...