Facing the nobles who had sent word seeking marriage alliances, Huangfu Ji politely declined them outright. Marriage alliances between nobles were perfectly normal, but he had no desire to rely on the power of these Heaven Dou nobles to reclaim his authority.
Besides, he had no need to.
Moreover, he knew full well that these Heaven Dou nobles would not provide him with much help. Instead, they would become shackles that bound him.
Although Xue Ye had never stated it outright, his attitude made it easy to guess that he wanted to keep Huangfu Ji in the Heaven Dou Empire and forge him into a sharp blade held in the emperor's hand.
Xue Ye's wishful thinking meant nothing to him. He would not become the Empire's blade, much less a Guardian Douluo.
Why protect someone else's country when protecting your own was better?
Zhao Hong expressed his concerns over Huangfu Ji's refusal of the nobles' marriage proposals.
"Grand Duke, is it really appropriate to refuse those Heaven Dou nobles like this?"
The nobles seeking marriage alliances with Huangfu Ji were no ordinary nobles. They were all renowned figures within the Heaven Dou Empire, powerful aristocrats with real authority in their hands. Even the imperial chancellor had expressed a desire to form a marriage alliance.
In Zhao Hong's view, Huangfu Ji could have fully borrowed the strength of these Heaven Dou nobles.
But now that he had refused them, it meant Huangfu Ji might offend these people. That was hardly a good thing.
Especially since they were currently on someone else's turf.
If those nobles decided to cause trouble in the future, they would have no way to deal with it.
"There's nothing inappropriate about it." Huangfu Ji was utterly unconcerned.
"Besides, I've already refused them. Should I shamelessly go back