Hang Tuah became the sultan's constant aide, accompanying the king on official visits to foreign

countries. On one such visit to Majapahit, Hang Tuah fought a duel with the famed pendekar Taming
Sari. After a brutal fight Hang Tuah emerged as winner, and then Singhavikramavardhana, the ruler
of Majapahit, bestowed upon him Taming Sari’s kris or dagger. The Keris Taming Sari was named
after its original owner, and was purported to be magical, empowering its owner with physical
invulnerability.

Hang Tuah also acted as the sultan's ambassador, travelling on the king's behalf to allied countries.
Another story concerning Hang Tuah's legendary loyalty to the ruler is found in the Hikayat Hang
Tuah, and involves his visit to Inderaputra or Pahang during one such voyage. The sultan sent Hang
Tuah to Pahang with the task of persuading the princess Tun Teja, who was already engaged, to
become the sultan's companion. Tun Teja fell under the impression that Hang Tuah had come to
persuade her to marry him, not the sultan, and agreed to elope with him to Melaka. It was only
during the voyage home that Hang Tuah revealed his deception to Tun Teja.

The Hikayat Hang Tuah and Sejarah Melayu each carry different accounts of this incident. The
Hikayat records that it was Hang Tuah who persuaded Tun Teja to elope with him, thus deceiving
her.

Perhaps the most famous story in which Hang Tuah is involved is the fight with his closest childhood
companion, Hang Jebat. Hang Tuah's deep loyalty to and popularity with the sultan led to rumours
being circulated that Hang Tuah was having an illicit affair with one of the sultan's dayang (court
stewardesses). The sultan then sentenced Hang Tuah to death without trial for the alleged offence.
The death sentence was never carried out, however, because Hang Tuah's executioner,
the bendahara (chief minister), went against the sultan’s orders and hid Hang Tuah in a remote
region of Melaka.