"I had paid little attention to those two at first, but for a time, a rumor circulated both inside and outside Tong City," Bei Chen told Yang Qing.
"What rumor?" Yang Qing asked.
"That Xiao Shandong would soon be promoted to Left Imperial Censor, a position only one step away from Chief Imperial Censor," Bei Chen said.
"When I first heard that rumor, I found it quite implausible. After all, even if someone else were to take the position of Left Imperial Censor, Tan Wenjie should have been better qualified than Xiao Shandong."
"If the Vice Minister of War were to move up, he ought to become Minister of War. Why would he skip that step and take the position of Left Imperial Censor?"
Yang Qing said, "In that case, His Majesty of Northern Liang seems determined to turn those two against each other."
Listening to Yang Qing's analysis, Bei Chen said, "Exactly. Given Duan Hongzhuo's former temperament, he would never have allowed such blatant provocation."
"Yet this time, for some reason, he has shown no reaction whatsoever."
"Although no final decision has been made, the fact that the Imperial City has done nothing to stop the rumor can only mean that it is almost certainly true."
"Besides, although those two hail from the same town, they have little affection for each other as fellow townsmen. I do not know why Duan Hongzhuo took both of them under his command."
As the saying went, when people united their hearts, their strength could sever metal. Yet Duan Hongzhuo had placed these two together. What exactly did he have in mind?
"Only the Regent King himself likely knows the reasons behind it."
But Yang Qing thought of someone. He looked at Bei Chen and asked, "Have you ever heard the name 'Lady