Zhao Fa's Shock

The Marquis of Chengyang's sudden move caught Jiang Mingyang off guard.

But Jiang Mingyang quickly recovered.

He smiled and gently patted Zhao Fa's shoulder, showing his approval.

As the ancients said: a wise man knew which way the wind blew.

Since Jiang Mingyang had chosen to rebel, he needed high-ranking officials loyal to him, especially military commanders.

The key was that they had to be loyal to Jiang Mingyang, not Qian Renxue.

By rights, Qian Renxue was Jiang Mingyang's lover. Given their relationship, what was hers was his, so there was no need to draw such a sharp line.

And if these people were all loyal to Qian Renxue herself, that would have been fine.

After all, loyalty to Qian Renxue would also mean loyalty to Jiang Mingyang.

The problem was that their loyalty was not to Qian Renxue, but to "Xue Qinghe."

They were loyal not to the Pope's daughter, but to the Heaven Dou Empire.

They were loyal to Qian Renxue now only because she appeared before them as "Xue Qinghe."

In essence, then, the person they served was "Xue Qinghe."

If they discovered that the emperor was Qian Renxue rather than "Xue Qinghe," they would surely turn their blades on her.

Jiang Mingyang did not need ministers loyal to the emperor and the Heaven Dou Empire. He needed ministers loyal to the Duke of Tianya.

He needed ministers who would support him when he rebelled, ministers who wanted to become founding heroes.

With what he had said, the Marquis of Chengyang, Zhao Fa, had declared his desire to become a minister loyal to Jiang Mingyang in the truest sense.

Seeing Zhao Fa submit so openly, the other five marquises shifted uneasily in their seats, unsure what to do.

Their expressions darkened.

Why had Zhao Fa declared his