Chapter 903

Long Xuan'en said: "She's just a little girl; let her go."

Hong Beimo nodded.

Long Xuan'en said: "Beloved subject, do you truly believe there is a way to longevity in this world?"

Hong Beimo said: "I don't know, but I believe one can prolong life through some methods. As far as I know, Zhang Huaji, the True Person of Wuji Guan, is already 163 years old, yet looks no different from a fifty-year-old."

Long Xuan'en sighed: "There are arts to preserve youth and eternal spring; I do not seek immortality, but if Heaven could grant me another fifty years, how wonderful that would be." His words were filled with endless regret.

Hong Beimo said: "One can extend lifespan through cultivation and medicine; Your Majesty, as a heaven-favored son, will surely receive Heaven's blessing."

A hint of a bitter smile appeared on Long Xuan'en's lips; he slowly shook his head and then said: "Arrange it, have Zhang Zhenren come see me; I wish to ask him personally about the art of longevity."

Hong Beimo showed a troubled expression: "Your Majesty, once Zhang Zhenren turned ninety he never left the Northern Ridge Snow Mountain; I fear I cannot manage that."

Long Xuan'en said: "The Northern Ridge Snow Mountain lies in Da Yong, and I am not able to go there."

Hong Beimo said: "I am close friends with Daoist Xu Shouxin of Wuji Sect; he is Zhang Zhenren's grand-disciple and one of the six great elders of Wuji Sect. Why not invite him instead?"

Long Xuan'en nodded and said: "That works!"

The Heavenly Dragon Temple's sonorous morning bell rang; Hu Xiaotian had already led that group of Imperial Guards away at the third watch.

Besides the twenty Imperial Guards stationed at Puxian Hall, all the other guards came to the Five Observances Hall to eat, including Zuo Tang, who had been on duty at Puxian Hall the previous night. Hu Xiaotian first asked Zuo Tang about the situation at Puxian Hall last night and learned that the impostor emperor's entourage had been fairly well-behaved, causing no trouble.

After last night's battle, Hu Xiaotian had established absolute authority in the hearts of these guards; everyone awaited his orders.

Hu Xiaotian divided the hundred guards into five squads, rotating day and night shifts, and withdrew the guards previously posted at each approach to Puxian Hall—these deployments were unnecessary anyway, as Heavenly Dragon Temple itself had warrior monks patrolling day and night; setting up checkpoints at the gates was merely redundant.

After Hu Xiaotian's rearrangement, the defensive perimeter shrank considerably, though the number of personnel remained the same. It shifted from protecting Puxian Hall and keeping outsiders out to sealing Puxian Hall in layers to prevent the impostor emperor's entourage from leaving; in effect, it amounted to putting them under house arrest.

At this moment a guard came to report that a young eunuch had arrived at Puxian Hall to urge the Emperor to take his early meal.

Hu Xiaotian nodded and went out to see. It turned out to be Yin Zheng. Seeing Hu Xiaotian come out, Yin Zheng immediately beamed and walked over, eagerly saying: "Elder brother, good morning!"

Because there was no one else nearby, he dared to address him that way.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Eunuch Yin, please don't say that; I cannot bear such praise."

Yin Zheng instantly sensed Hu Xiaotian's anger toward him, as if he were about to expel this little brother from the ranks; he hurriedly said: "Elder brother, please don't be angry with me; I came today just to speak some words from my heart."

Hu Xiaotian glanced around; in the distance several guards were still looking their way, but far enough that they likely couldn't hear the conversation. He then nodded and said: "Say what you have to say."

Yin Zheng wore a bitter face: "Brother, I have an unavoidable predicament. I was forced to take the Myriad Insect Bone-Corroding Pill; if I do not obey obediently, I fear I won't live even half a year."

Hu Xiaotian's eyes narrowed; he instantly thought of Baobao and Lin Wan. Wasn't Hong Beimo controlling them with the Myriad Insect Bone-Corroding Pill? Unexpectedly, he now uses this method to control the palace eunuchs—it seems Hong Beimo is even more ruthless than Ji Feihua.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Isn't it a bit late to tell me this now?"

Yin Zheng lowered his voice: "Elder brother, after coming to Heavenly Dragon Temple I also noticed something off about the Emperor. No matter how one disguises oneself, some details can still give oneself away, especially in the eyes of us palace folk; though I haven't served the Emperor long, I still have some understanding of his daily habits."

Hu Xiaotian whispered: "You mean..."

Yin Zheng leaned close to his ear and whispered softly: "This Emperor is someone else in disguise."

Hu Xiaotian deliberately darkened his face: "Don't talk nonsense; do you know that if others heard this, they would surely chop off your head?"

Yin Zheng turned ashen, his voice trembling: "Elder brother, I have never mentioned this to anyone, and I dare not assert it, but from his demeanor it is likely nine out of ten that he is an impostor. Think about it: in the past, when the Emperor went on tours, the Imperial Guard handled his close protection; why has it changed this time, with everyone replaced by personnel from the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Are you worried about exposing a flaw, so that we might see through it?"

Yin Zheng nodded: "That must be the reason."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Does anyone else know about this?"

Yin Zheng said: "I dare not tell anyone, elder brother; if this Emperor is false, what should we do?" This remark was clearly an overture to win Hu Xiaotian's favor. He also understood that regaining Hu Xiaotian's trust would not be easy.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Without evidence, it's best not to speak rashly; in any case, do not show any abnormality before them—keep as you were before, and if you notice anything amiss, report it to me immediately."

"Yes!"

Just as Yin Zheng left, the monastery's supervisor, Master Tongjing, arrived, accompanied only by the young novice who had accompanied Hu Xiaotian to Split Cloud Valley that day.

Hu Xiaotian went out to greet him, palms together, saying: "Good morning, Master Tongjing!"

Master Tongjing's face still bore a gentle smile: "Good morning, Patron Hu!"

Hu Xiaotian knew he must have come because of last night's incident, yet seeing no displeasure on his face, indeed monks are all alike, differing only in attainment. He cheerfully invited Master Tongjing to sit in his quarters, but the master shook his head: "No need; I merely heard that something happened at the Emperor's side last night, so the abbot sent me to inquire."

Hu Xiaotian briefly recounted last night's events, then said: "We are about to search the temple everywhere; perhaps we can find that infiltrating assassin."

Master Tongjing's expression remained calm, but he was deeply displeased inside; this Hu Xiaotian was treating Heavenly Dragon Temple as a place to search at will. He said softly: "I can guarantee that there is no monk like the one you described inside our temple."

Hu Xiaotian said: "With so many monks in Heavenly Dragon Temple, Master Tongjing, you probably cannot know every one of them."

Master Tongjing said: "Heavenly Dragon Temple has over twenty thousand monks; though I may not be able to call each by their dharma name, I can instantly tell who belongs to the temple and who comes from outside."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "So Master Tongjing means we are just a bunch of outsiders, huh?"

Master Tongjing's lips curled into a faint smile; he did not answer, but the meaning was clear.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Whether or not they are monks of Heavenly Dragon Temple, we are all people of Dakang, and the Emperor is our Emperor; if something happens to the Emperor within Heavenly Dragon Temple, I cannot bear the responsibility, and I suspect you cannot either." This fellow began threatening Master Tongjing again.

Master Tongjing, usually so composed, felt his patience slipping; his brows furrowed slightly: "The monks of Heavenly Dragon Temple harbor only reverence for the Emperor, with no intent to harm; your words, Patron Hu, are unjust."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Master Tongjing, don't misunderstand; I did not say Heavenly Dragon Temple intends harm to the Emperor. It's just that last night we discovered an intruder who had sneaked in; we pursued him all the way to outside the Sutra Pavilion, where we lost his trail. We wanted to enter the pavilion to search, but encountered endless obstruction."

Master Tongjing said: "It is not intentional obstruction; rather, the Sutra Pavilion is a forbidden area of Heavenly Dragon Temple, and without the abbot's permission no one may enter at will."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Which is more important, the Sutra Pavilion or the Emperor's safety? If something were to happen to the Emperor, I would not believe you could still preserve the Sutra Pavilion." These words were extremely rude.

Master Tongjing's face instantly flashed with anger, but he quickly restrained himself, nodding: "What would you like to do, Patron?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I want to go into the Sutra Pavilion to see whether there really is that hunchbacked, pigeon-chested ugly monk."

Master Tongjing said: "Very well; I have come this time precisely to fulfill your wish. The abbot has agreed to let you enter the Sutra Pavilion for inquiry, but there is a condition."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What condition?"

Master Tongjing said: "Only you alone may enter!"

Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat; perhaps his overbearing conduct had provoked the monks' anger, and they had set a trap to lure him in, planning to catch him red-handed once he entered the Sutra Pavilion alone, or even to frame him for stealing scriptures. But on second thought, these monks likely harbored no such malice, and besides, he bore the halo of Deputy Commander of Dakang's Imperial Guard; they would have to think twice before acting against him. Feeling reassured, he nodded: "Fine, let's do it that way."

Master Tongjing added: "What if you, Patron Hu, cannot find that monk you spoke of inside the Sutra Pavilion?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Then we will keep searching the temple until we find that monk." This fellow certainly was not so easily taken in by Master Tongjing's trap.

Master Tongjing slowly shook his head: "The abbot said that if Commander Hu cannot find that monk, he should ask Official Hu to leave Heavenly Dragon Temple in advance."

Hu Xiaotian heard correctly; these monks have started to issue him an expulsion order. I originally didn't intend to come here, but since I've come, it's not as simple as you asking me to leave and I can just go. As the saying goes, inviting the Buddha is easy, sending him away is hard. If the Emperor doesn't leave, how can I? The opportunity to enter the Buddhist scripture pavilion is rare; I must not miss this chance. For now, I'll agree to your words—if I want to stay, I can easily find thousands of excuses, enough to anger you old monks.

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