Wen Boyuan said, "Eunuch Hu, why must you sully my good name before the princess? When you ran into trouble at the City God Temple last night, I led my men into danger to rescue you. It's bad enough that you show no gratitude, but now you slander me instead. Your Highness, please uphold justice for your humble general!" He was no ordinary man either. How could he meekly admit the truth?
Hu Xiaotian said, "Sully your good name? General Wen, everyone there saw clearly whether you meant to save me or harm me. What grievance do you have against me that you keep trying to hurt me?"
Long Xiyue frowned. "You two have been at odds throughout this journey. You are both subjects of Great Kang, and both here to protect me. We are still within Great Kang's borders. If people in Great Yong saw you behaving this way, wouldn't we become a laughingstock? Seeing our own people fighting among themselves would only convince them that Great Kang has no worthy men."
Hu Xiaotian said, "Your Highness, my loyalty to you is wholehearted and true. Please judge the matter clearly, and do not believe malicious slander."
Long Xiyue was visibly angry now. "Enough! Because you serve at my side, I have always been reluctant to reprimand you. But that does not mean you alone are right about everything and everyone else is wrong. His Majesty sent you all to accompany me to Great Yong, and each person's duties were clearly assigned. Why can't you simply fulfill your own responsibilities instead of slandering one another? When you got into trouble last night, not a single person stood by and ignored you. General Wen mobilized everyone and spent the entire night searching for you. Even if he earned no credit, he