Chapter 80: The Trump Card Breakthrough |
It was 7:30 in the evening.
Night had fallen.
Greenwood City, Intermediate People''s Court.
Inside the infirmary.
"Ugh..."
Lying on the hospital bed, golden lawyer Zhang Wei let out a groan. His eyes fluttered as his face twisted in pain.
A moment later.
He opened his eyes and instinctively gripped the edge of the bed. Pushing himself up, he leaned against the headboard and tried to look around, but a second later...
Zhang Wei felt as if a razor blade was churning inside his brain, causing him blinding agony!
A few suited lawyers resting nearby lit up with joy.
"Lawyer Zhang! Lawyer Zhang is awake!"
"Thank goodness, you just passed out. It''s nothing serious..."
"Lawyer Zhang, rest first. The doctor ordered you to avoid using your brain as much as possible for the next two days."
The group gathered around, looking at Zhang Wei with deep respect.
Truth be told, Zhenghe Law Firm was a "boutique" small firm. Of course, it wasn''t on the same tier as a massive firm like Jinmao; it was literal in its boutique status.
The firm only had a little over twenty employees divided into three teams.
Zhang Wei and Sun Bing each led a team. Because the Green Forest 18th Academy case was significant enough, carried a certain level of prestige, and Liu Hao was simply paying an exorbitant fee...
The firm decided to temporarily combine Zhang Wei and Sun Bing''s golden lawyer teams, selecting senior lawyers to form a unified squad.
It was spearheaded by Zhang Wei.
Initially, a few of the lawyers under Sun Bing had been dissatisfied. After all, they were both golden teams; why should Zhang Wei get the lion''s share of the credit for doing the same amount of work?
But now...
They yielded.
They were truly convinced!
Lawyer Sun Bing looked at Zhang Wei, her tone noticeably softer compared to their usual discussions.
She said, "Lawyer Zhang, please rest for now. Don''t worry about the case; court won''t reconvene this week."
The others chimed in respectfully, "That''s right, Lawyer Zhang. You''ve sacrificed too much for the firm. Your health must come first!"
"You know, Lawyer Zhang, I''ve always admired you."
"Honestly, I think those golden lawyers from the Magic Circle firms aren''t necessarily better than you. Staying in Greenwood City is honestly a waste of your talents!"
The group showered him with praise, their words completely devoid of sarcasm. It was pure admiration.
And they couldn''t help but admire him.
That proxy lawyer for the prosecution, Xu De...
That guy was truly devious—boundlessly ruthless! To think he dared launch an evidence ambush with such irrefutable proof!
He had even stayed completely silent, waiting until they had presented all their defense evidence and had Lü Guangjun take the stand to deliver testimony favorable to them. Only then did he throw out the video recording...
Exposing their lies in public!
Just that alone would have paralyzed anyone with poor stress tolerance, leaving them incapable of a retort on the spot.
Yet Zhang Wei, under such extreme, high-pressure circumstances...
Still managed to continuously debate a perfectly fine Huang Shi...
That was a grueling, three-hour-long legal clash in court!!!
"Lawyer Zhang, your performance... truly lives up to the title of a golden lawyer!"
Even Sun Bing couldn''t help but praise him.
Hearing these words as his headache slightly subsided, a bitter smile surfaced on Zhang Wei''s face.
"There''s nothing to brag about."
"I was forced into it..."
Sometimes life was just like that; if no one pushed you, you wouldn''t even know where your limits lay.
It was all forced out by Xu De. He had to fight for his life, because even a single step back could have slapped him with the charge of "perjury"!!!
Devious... He was too devious.
"What about Lü Guangjun? How is he?"
In a daze, Zhang Wei remembered Lü Guangjun and quickly asked.
Lü Guangjun...
Since he was arrested, he would absolutely face a police investigation.
He might even become an accomplice in this case!
Of course, since the trial had already begun, it was highly likely a separate case would be filed against him, but this still meant he would absolutely face criminal liability.
If this guy... started biting wildly and accused them of fabricating evidence at this crucial juncture, they would be in serious trouble.
Although they had aligned their testimonies, they hadn''t actually fabricated physical evidence.
After all, holding the ultimate advantage of the "red line," they had no reason to take such a massive risk.
"Lü Guangjun?"
Sun Bing replied, "He was taken away for questioning right after the recess. He didn''t bite blindly; our people have already communicated with the police."
As long as he didn''t bite blindly...
Zhang Wei breathed a sigh of relief.
His attention then returned to the case itself, and he fell silent.
"What about their proxy?"
He suddenly asked again, his mind picturing Xu De, that quiet lawyer whose patience rivaled that of a tortoise.
"What did he go do?"
Lü Guangjun''s issue would probably take about a week and a half to investigate, which meant the next trial session would likely be a week and a half away.
Even though their side still held the advantage.
But...
They had thought the exact same thing before the trial began.
God knew if the opponent was going to drop another massive bomb!
"He left the court with the prosecutor," Sun Bing replied, lowering her posture to that of a senior lawyer.
"Most likely, he''s already left the courthouse and returned to his firm."
"Lawyer Zhang, you don''t need to worry. Although we suffered a setback in the first session..."
"The inherent advantage the defendants have in this case is simply too enormous!"
First, the three individuals shared joint responsibility for the homicide.
Second.
All three of them fell under the age protection regulations!
The primary defendant, Liu Jingqi, wasn''t even seventeen. She wouldn''t even face life imprisonment!
Let alone Lü Guangjun spilling the truth...
Even if Xu De managed to find a rooftop camera angle that recorded the entire incident, Sun Bing dared to say they still had a slight edge!
"No matter what."
"This courtroom confrontation pits a standard accusation against the ''Minor Protection Law''."
Sun Bing smiled faintly and comforted him, "The advantage is ours!"
"Lawyer Zhang, just go and rest."
"As for the aftermath, with the police visiting the school... the rest of the lawyers on the team will handle it."
Green Forest 18th Academy was a good school, and its leadership had a decent reputation. Unfortunately, they had been screwed over by Lü Guangjun. The school would definitely hold him accountable later, which could potentially drag the defense team into the mess.
But the threat wasn''t significant.
Currently, there were only two major threats.
One was the reporters who knew the case details... They couldn''t even imagine how sensational the news outside would be once they left this infirmary.
The proxy lawyer''s cross-examination caused the defense''s golden lawyer to pass out...
Damn it, those reporters were entirely unprofessional!
Passing out was fine. Zhang Wei had clearly overperformed. Had it been a normal person, they probably would have fainted the exact moment the evidence was submitted!
"Alright."
Zhang Wei let out a breath, his anxious heart finally settling.
It was exactly as Sun Bing said.
The defense held the red-line legislation of the "Minor Protection Law"!
The moment this was brought up, it equated to winning the case. Dismissed? What a joke.
There wasn''t even a sliver of a chance for the red line to be dismissed!
Forget Xu De; even if the most politically resourceful lawyers in Beijing teamed up, they couldn''t shake it in the slightest.
Even if Presiding Judge Zhang Bingxin''s personal bias lay entirely with the plaintiff''s bench, the maximum he could sentence Liu Jingqi to was fifteen years!
If they arranged for a ''good behavior'' reduction plan, Liu Jingqi might be out in ten years.
So...
They couldn''t lose.
No matter what angle they looked at it from, there was no possibility of losing the case!
Zhang Wei finally felt at ease.
"Am I making you uneasy?"
"Is it because I put some pressure on you during the trial?"
Meanwhile.
Detention Center.
Inside the lawyer visitation room.
Xu De sat in his chair, a faint smile on his face. His eyes were calm, yet they managed to make whoever met his gaze feel flustered and panicked.
Behind him stood Wang Chao and Lin Yue. The three silently watched Qiao Wang behind the bars in front of them.
"N-no."
Inside the visitation room.
Qiao Wang''s heart raced, her breathing heavy, and her hands clenched tightly as her body trembled uncontrollably.
She kept her head down, not daring to look at him.
"Heh, your attitude is quite different from before..."
"Have you ever regretted it?"
Xu De continued to smile, his tone indifferent. He sat in front of the iron bars, saying nothing else.
Qiao Wang wasn''t sixteen; she was seventeen. If Xu De wanted to target her...
She could face life imprisonment. Although theoretically, it could be reduced to serving ten years at a minimum, Qiao Wang obviously didn''t fit the criteria. She didn''t even know how to get a sentence reduction.
Even if she got out of prison... she would likely be starting over in her forties. Experiencing a generational gap after decades behind bars was not a pleasant prospect.
Most importantly...
"I see you aren''t regretful."
Xu De suddenly spoke, a single sentence shattering her facade.
"You''re just afraid."
"You''re afraid I''ll make an example out of you?"
Qiao Wang froze, and an uncontrollable shudder ran through her heart. Her pupils contracted.
It was true; she was just afraid.
Murder?
She had definitely panicked when someone died, and she had regretted it. But the premise of her regret was the punishment the court was about to impose on her!
If there was no punishment... she would continue laughing and joking, no different from an ordinary person.
As for... Yang Jiale?
Naturally, it was the girl''s own fault for falling to her death. It had nothing to do with her.
"What do you want with me?"
Qiao Wang suddenly spoke. Although her breathing was still heavy and her body felt physical terror.
In her eyes, there was still a trace of ruthless anger from being exposed. It was exactly this ruthlessness that gave her the courage to speak.
"To chat about Liu Jingqi."
After a moment''s thought, Xu De said, "As far as I know, you, Jiang Yu, and Liu Jingqi are all from the same batch at the orphanage?"
That was correct.
Aside from Liu Jingqi, Qiao Wang and Jiang Yu were also orphans from Jiaqin Welfare Institute.
But unlike Liu Jingqi.
After Jiang Yu and Qiao Wang were adopted, the former''s adoptive parents had a son of their own... their biological child.
The latter''s parents ended up having boy-girl twins.
Consequently, both families stopped paying attention to Qiao Wang and Jiang Yu. They didn''t even show up for the trial and verdict... unwilling to even stand at the courtroom door.
"Miss Qiao, there''s something I''m not sure if I should say."
Suddenly.
Xu De changed the topic, sighed, and spoke with a tone of pity.
He said, "To be frank, looking at it from an outsider''s perspective... staying tight-lipped like this is a very unworthy action."
"Think about it. Why is it that, despite all of you coming from the welfare institute, only Liu Jingqi''s adoptive parents showed up in court?"
"Why does she get to be pampered by her adoptive parents when you are all orphans from the same place!?"
"And... why is it that she is the chief culprit in this case? Whether as the principal offender or the mastermind, it''s all Liu Jingqi."
"Yet, why were you dragged into this?"
"And even now, you''re keeping your mouth shut for her..."
"You should know... doing this will result in a severe sentence for you in the end!"
Xu De paused.
Then, lowering his tone a few pitches, he looked at Qiao Wang, whose fists were clenched tight, and said slowly, "But Liu Jingqi has parents willing to spend two to three hundred thousand to arrange a sentence reduction for her."
"And what about you?"
"Miss Qiao... would your adoptive parents be willing to spend two to three hundred thousand to reduce your sentence?"
Would they?
Of course not!
Two to three hundred thousand for an adopted daughter... an unloved one at that. How could that be possible?
But Liu Jingqi...
Qiao Wang kept her head down. Her hands gripped so tightly that her knuckles turned white, her teeth gritted.
Xu De''s words were highly seductive, like a devil whispering in her ear.
Why?
Because what he said made absolute sense!
"And what I want to ask is very simple."
"That is... when did Liu Jingqi arrive at Jiaqin Welfare Institute?"
Xu De''s voice wasn''t loud, but his enunciation was extremely clear, every word falling perfectly into Qiao Wang''s ears.
After he spoke, he paused slightly, as if suddenly remembering something.
"Oh, right. A disclaimer."
"Before seeing you, I already met with Jiang Yu. Take a guess... did she talk?"
He met Jiang Yu... too?
Qiao Wang froze. She raised her head, looking at Xu De. Her expression visibly shaken, a flash of struggle in her eyes.
He had seen Jiang Yu...
Would Jiang Yu tell him!?
Would she...? If she talked and Qiao Wang didn''t... would she receive a harsher sentence!?
But if she did talk...
She fell silent.
Xu De wasn''t in a hurry. He sat quietly in his chair.
A long while passed.
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
"She... she entered the welfare institute a year later than I did."
"I was only five years old at the time!"
Qiao Wang buried her head and spoke through gritted teeth.
Every man for himself!
Who asked Liu Jingqi to drag her down so miserably? She normally only bullied people; she never had any intention of killing anyone!
"Oh?"
Xu De nodded, his face devoid of any ripples as he continued, "Yes, I know."
"Do you have any more details?"
Seeing this, Qiao Wang panicked inwardly and cursed violently in her head.
His reaction... Jiang Yu really had sold both her and Liu Jingqi out!
She grew anxious, well aware that if she couldn''t provide any information, her prison sentence wouldn''t be reduced by a single day.
"Liu Jingqi was already an adult a long time ago!"
"When she came in, she was just a bit skinny, but in reality, she should have reached adulthood ages ago!"
Qiao Wang spoke up again.
"Mhm," Xu De nodded.
"What evidence do you have to prove that?"
Qiao Wang was speechless.
Evidence?
She had none. This happened over a decade ago; where was she supposed to find evidence!?
"I... I..."
Qiao Wang stuttered, her heart burning with anxiety.
She hastily rattled off several clues, but none of them yielded anything solid. They were all unilateral verbal accusations that a judge wouldn''t even bat an eye at.
Seeing this.
Xu De shook his head and made a motion to stand up and leave.
Seeing this.
Qiao Wang grew completely desperate. She racked her brains, eventually blurting out abruptly.
"I remember something!"
"Liu Jingqi had an accent when she was little!"
Liu Jingqi was carried... into the welfare institute by someone?
Was it a staff member or someone else?
Xu De suddenly halted. A certain thought flashed through his mind briefly. He looked at her and said calmly, "Continue."
Hearing this.
Qiao Wang flushed red. After a long while of not being able to come up with anything else, she could only stammer, "I... I don''t remember anything else."
"I don''t know where the accent was from. I just remember one phrase: ''Gao nayang'' (What are you doing)."
"That''s how Liu Jingqi used to talk back then. It took her a long time to get rid of the accent; I''m very clear on this!"
"Other than that, I really don''t remember."
Having finished, she didn''t know if she had said more or provided more value than Jiang Yu, so she looked up at him uneasily.
Xu De remained unmoved. He stood up and naturally started packing his things.
"Miss Qiao, our meeting ends here for now. If we need anything else, we will look for you again."
With that.
Xu De left.
Looking at his back, Qiao Wang opened her mouth but ultimately didn''t say anything. Her heart was racing with anxiety.
Outside the Detention Center.
"How did it go?" Wang Chao looked at Xu De and asked.
Xu De pondered for a moment, not rushing to draw a conclusion. Instead, he said, "Let''s meet with Jiang Yu first."
With that.
He went to find the bailiffs to make the arrangements.
A short while later.
In the same spot in the lawyer visitation room, the chair still retained Qiao Wang''s warmth, but the person behind the bars had been replaced by Jiang Yu.
Looking at Jiang Yu.
Xu De said calmly, "A few minutes ago, we saw Qiao Wang first. Take a guess if she..."
At 8:30 PM.
At the main entrance of the Detention Center.
Xu De slowly walked out, letting out a long, deep breath. A hint of fatigue showed on his face.
He had finished questioning Jiang Yu, but overall, she hadn''t provided any useful intelligence.
However... it did confirm one statement!
"Liu Jingqi has a regional accent."
Wang Chao stepped out of the Detention Center''s main entrance, a confused look on his face.
Lin Yue nodded. "It''s a Sichuan-Guizhou-Chongqing accent."
Although the internet wasn''t widespread at the time, she was familiar with accents from all over the country and had quickly narrowed down where Qiao Wang and Jiang Yu were referring to.
"What''s so strange about that?"
Wang Chao raised an eyebrow, looking a bit puzzled.
Having a regional accent was very normal. In 2002, most people spoke with a heavy dialect flavor.
"Having an accent isn''t strange, but..."
Xu De suddenly spoke, narrowing his eyes.
What was an accent?
An accent was a way of vocalizing words.
How does one speak with it?
They have to learn it!
How could one learn an accent? It''s difficult, unless...
They are exposed to it from a young age, unconsciously picking up the regional accent by mimicking adults!
But the problem arose.
When Liu Jingqi first entered Jiaqin Welfare Institute, she was at most four or five years old.
And for a child to pick up an accent, it would take at least two or three years!
In other words...
Liu Jingqi wasn''t from Greenwood City. Her birthplace was in the Sichuan-Guizhou-Chongqing region, and at the time, her presence in Greenwood City had been extremely brief!
Did she follow her parents to Greenwood City and then get lost?
No.
A four- or five-year-old could already give a basic description. If parents from another province lost their child in the city and called the police, the child would be easily recovered based on their accent characteristics.
Therefore, they could basically rule out the possibility that her parents were in Greenwood City at the time.
And there were only two options left.
Either Liu Jingqi deliberately concealed her origins... A four- or five-year-old hiding their background, even if possible, was 100% abnormal.
Or...
"There''s a problem with the welfare institute!"
Xu De suddenly said, narrowing his eyes as a hidden secret surfaced in his mind.
During the first hearing, they had basically managed to convict Liu Jingqi. But the fact that she remained arrogant and unrepentant after court adjourned was simply because she was relying on her minor status.
But if...
His guess was correct, then...
He really might be able to completely strip away this ''minor'' trump card!
A minor? It was exactly the minors he was going after!
He wanted to see if, without this trump card... Liu Jingqi could still be as arrogant as she was now!
"What problem!?" Lin Yue froze.
"Subsidy fraud!"
Xu De blurted out.
"Subsidy fraud?"
Wang Chao was stunned. "What is that?"