As soon as Hu Xiaotian heard what this was about, he understood the Fake Emperor's intentions. First, he wanted to absolve himself in front of Abbot Tongyuan; second, he wanted to seize this opportunity to get back at Hu Xiaotian and vent the resentment bottled up in his chest. Before discovering the Old Emperor's true identity, Hu Xiaotian would never have dared argue with him. Now that he knew this fellow was a counterfeit, there was no need to be quite so polite. Still, on reflection, there was no point in tearing away all pretense in front of the abbot. He said respectfully, "Your Majesty, your servant acted entirely out of concern for your safety."
"Insolent fool! Even if an assassin did sneak in, that was a failure of your defenses. What does it have to do with the monks of the Heavenly Dragon Temple? You searched everywhere and stirred everyone into a panic. Did you think I wouldn't know? You were simply trying to divert my attention and shirk your own responsibility!" The Fake Emperor pressed him relentlessly, his voice sharp and his expression fierce, his swaggering bastard's aura swelling to unprecedented heights.
Hu Xiaotian said, "Your Majesty is wise indeed. Your servant first burned incense and worshipped the Buddha on your behalf in Cloudsplit Valley, then oversaw your meals in the Five Contemplations Hall. As for your personal protection, that was handled entirely by Liu Huchan and his men. Had they not been negligent, Your Majesty would never have stationed me and these guards in the Samantabhadra Courtyard."
The Fake Emperor's heart jolted. Hu Xiaotian actually dared refuse to defer to him. Had this brat really spotted a flaw in his disguise?
Tongyuan was astonished too. Although he stood apart from worldly affairs, he knew that a sovereign