Night Visit to the Prison

Sure enough!

Hearing that it was over the position of Yansheng Duke, Li Yan and Sha LiFei exchanged a glance.

It was just as they had guessed.

The madam, Jinping, was a shrewd woman. She shot the two men a look, pretended not to notice anything, and continued, "The position of Yansheng Duke involves far more than an empty title. Young Hero Li, you know that because of what happened with the Golden Horde Wolf Country back then, although the Kong family's main branch inherited the title of Yansheng Duke, the legitimate bloodline has been severed for several generations."

"Now, the current duke is advanced in years, and the various branches were already beginning to stir. Once he dies, it will be like pulling out the stake pinning down a nest of snakes—the entire tangled web of the Kong family will reveal its true form. The struggle between the various sides all stems from the interests tied to that title."

"That controls the incense offerings and temple lands of the Confucian Circle throughout Qilu and even north of the Yangtze. The annual income alone is a mountain of gold and a sea of silver!"

"Indeed."

Li Yan's voice deepened. "Which sides are fighting now?"

"Please wait a moment, Young Hero Li."

Jinping gave a curtsy, turned, and left. Before long, she returned with a Brocade Box in her hands.

After opening it, she took out some documents and spoke while reading them:

"First, there is Kong Zhenyuan's branch. He is the old Yansheng Duke's eldest legitimate son, but he relies on his orthodox bloodline and is arrogant by nature. His son, Kong Shang'an, is even hated by the clansmen for his violent temper. The old Yansheng Duke placed many restrictions on father and son while he was alive. Kong Zhenyuan