Free Web NovelChapter 427: Chapter 314: Chief Judge Liu: What Do You Mean There’s More Suffering to Come!?
What kind of joke is this...
What do you mean by saying the hardest part is yet to come!?
Chief Judge Liu’s face revealed astonishment, looking at Zhao Yi with disbelief.
What was the burden before then!? A pre-court dessert?
"What do you mean!?"
Chief Judge Liu asked, a feeling of breathlessness sweeping over him.
"Literally, this guy likes to probe in the first trial and enjoys withholding evidence,"
said Zhao Yi flatly. He had grown accustomed to Xu Liang’s tactics, and could guess what the opponent was going to do with his eyes closed.
"Do you remember the case in Hanhai City regarding a minor changed to an adult, the Jinjiang Hotel corpse drop case?"
Chief Judge Liu suppressed his surprise, nodded, and said, "I remember."
Upon hearing the words, Zhao Yi’s face showed a smile, and he said:
"This case went from December to February the following year, a full three months, with three court sessions in the first trial!"
"He submitted the most crucial evidence in the third court session, completely reversing the case."
"But... do you know when he found this decisive evidence?"
A case often holds evidence that determines its direction.
In this case, Xu Liang held three such pieces of evidence!
"When?"
Chief Judge Liu hesitated and asked.
This case’s details were unknown to him.
Zhao Yi’s mouth twitched, recalling it left him a bit unable to remain composed, so he immediately said:
"After the re-examination by the Hanhai City Intermediate Court, multiple judges."
"We discovered that the evidence he submitted during the third trial... might have been found before the first trial even started!"
The third trial’s evidence... obtained before any trials even began!?
Then why bother with so many trials?
Chief Judge Liu was stunned, his mind stuck.
Holding decisive evidence, yet he played with Duan Feipeng for three months?
This man... is he insane!
"He likes to test, throws out something small the first time, to feel things out,"
Zhao Yi said with sentimentality, then sipped his tea, expressing regrets on his face.
"But I’ve always believed that this guy is provoking me."
Chief Judge Liu: ...
A lawyer provoking the presiding judge, even lasting a year without being sanctioned...
No, that’s not right.
Suddenly realizing, Chief Judge Liu showed astonishment, saying in shock:
"Are you saying... the plaintiff’s attorney is still holding something back?"
In the moment those words dropped, he almost jumped from his seat, looking at Zhao Yi in shock.
Immediately, he felt a tingling sensation on his scalp.
During the trial phase, the other side forcibly tied a heap of vital and tricky information to Zhengyang Mining Company, even implicating the deceased Zhang Shan...
Investigating Wu Guotao and the court alone could take an unknown amount of time.
Now being told...
This was only their probing, and the crucial evidence is still clutched in their hands!?
"No way, the case has progressed to this point..."
Chief Judge Liu calmed down and hesitated.
"The state-owned enterprises of Zhengyang City, police, court, even petition channels are involved, and it has resulted in fatalities..."
"What more can it evolve into?"
Chief Judge Liu showed confusion, puzzled inside.
The crime scene of the case is Zhengyang City.
Zhang Shan’s case is confined within Zhengyang City.
The entire Zhengyang City is implicated in the case, even affecting provincial matters yet... How can it not uncover anyone else related to the case?
Given this...
What other information could Xu Liang possibly be holding!?
"No idea."
Zhao Yi was expressionless, took another sip of tea, then smacked his lips, saying:
"However, when I took over the ’Tianshan Hospital case’ in Qingshi City, I thought the same way."
A counterfeit drug smuggling case turned the hospital into the largest black-market organ trader in the area, victims were drained to death.
The case even unprecedentedly shifted from the second criminal division to the first, thrown across dimensions into Zhao Yi’s hands!
Thought the second trial would just be about the Tianshan Hospital case.
No one expected....
"This guy exploded a human experiment case, I don’t even need to mention the number of victims, the case shocked the globe directly."
Zhao Yi was expressionless, his tone flat, without any emotion.
"Yes, I now realize through a re-examination, during the first trial, the case hadn’t even transferred to the first criminal division, and even before the third trial started....
"He had already investigated the hospital!"
"He held onto information for nearly two months, eventually exploding in the High Court."
Chief Judge Liu: ....
Why does this sound a bit heart-wrenching....?
But seeing the expressionless Zhao Yi, Chief Judge Liu’s attempt to console was silenced.
Ultimately, he pulled his thoughts back to the current case.
"Alright, thanks Judge Zhao, I will be cautious,"
Chief Judge Liu said.
He had already thought the case might involve some people from Zhengyang City, with the implications reaching higher levels.
"Hmm."
Zhao Yi nodded, then raised his hand, looking at the time, raising an eyebrow.
"Time to leave."
Finishing his words, Zhao Yi stood up and left the deliberation room, leaving Chief Judge Liu and other judges to continue discussing the case.
However.
During the discussion between both parties, Zhao Yi’s words kept echoing in Chief Judge Liu’s mind, causing him to hesitate, unable to speak any clarity for a long time, only able to continue confirming evidence.
"Hopefully, the case won’t have any more twists."
Chief Judge Liu thought honestly in his heart.
...
...
July 19th.
"Achoo!"
In the courtyard, Xu Liang kept sneezing, and Su Yu thoughtfully handed him a few tissues.
Xu Liang took them to wipe his nose, then Su Yu asked puzzled:
"Why have you been sneezing lately, brother?"
"Are you catching a cold?"
Xu Liang didn’t rush to answer; he wiped his nose first, then tossed the tissue into the trash and became curious himself.
"I don’t know, but I don’t have a fever, and my nose isn’t stuffed."
After thinking it over, he concluded:
"Maybe someone is thinking of me; after all, I’ve done so many good deeds, having a few people who constantly think of me is normal."
Xu Liang said casually.
Even though his morality and reputation fluctuate like the stock market.
He still thinks he has some moral reputation, and if that were on the stock market... he believes it would definitely soar upward!
"Enough, let’s not talk about this."
Xu Liang shook his head, bringing the conversation back to the main topic.
"What has Zhu Haoyi been up to these past few days?"
"Have you found anything out?"
He’s always suspected Zhu Haoyi has a hidden identity, but this guy hides it so well it’s impossible to investigate!
The only suspicious things are his resume and the selling of state resources.
But the former... there are many returnees these days; you can’t just suspect people based on that.
And for selling state resources... Zhu Haoyi is a businessman.
Businessmen prioritize profits!
Aside from Zhu Haoyi, there are many other businessmen in Eastern Country who do similar things, making it hard to pin this on him.
But apart from these two points....
Zhengyang Mining Company’s performance is similar to any ordinary company, running its operations normally.
Yet Xu Liang still feels something is off...
"Sister Xiaoyang is in charge of this matter."
Su Yu thought for a moment and spoke.
Yang Ruoxi couldn’t practice law in Upper City, so she worked as Xu Liang’s assistant, not even allowed to appear in court.
The reason is due to her father, Wang Yao, restricted by the avoidance system.
So Su Yu accompanied her in court appearances, while investigations were left to Yang Ruoxi.
Just as Su Yu was about to say more, a breathless voice suddenly came beside them.
"I’m burning up!"
Turning their heads.
They saw Yang Ruoxi wearing dungarees, slowly walking in from the entrance.
She then plopped onto the stone stool, resting her upper body on the stone table.
Feeling the coolness from the table, a satisfied look appeared on Yang Ruoxi’s face.
"Where have you been?"
Xu Liang leaned close to her, pinching the flesh on her cheek.
"How’s the investigation on Zhu Haoyi? You didn’t slack off, did you?"
Upon hearing this.
Yang Ruoxi struggled with her soft hands, trying to fend off his big hand.
"It’s so hot, the temperature is almost forty degrees today, don’t pinch me!!!"
She resisted, seeing this, Xu Liang stopped teasing her and instead looked at her with curiosity.
Yang Ruoxi straightened up, tidied her hair, then faced the two, and began to speak slowly:
"After observing for half a month, I ultimately.... "
"Found nothing!"
No... nothing?
Before they could ask more, Yang Ruoxi continued:
"Zhu Haoyi and Li Yang haven’t done much since arriving in Upper City."
"Mostly just back and forth between the court and police station, all related to the case. At most, they occasionally go to the market to buy groceries and cook."
Upon hearing this.
Xu Liang frowned.
That route seems very normal; there’s nothing suspicious at all.
It feels like he really came to Upper City just for the case, though that is indeed the case, but... Upper City is where he’s alone!
"Or perhaps... they’ve agreed on not showing themselves?"
Xu Liang fell into deep thought.
Zhu Haoyi is too slick in his disguise; it’s like trying to investigate a smooth turtle shell, finding no angle at all!
If not for the court’s notice and news, discovering the case filing ahead and coming to Upper City...
Xu Liang wouldn’t even be able to deduce if Zhu Haoyi knows anyone in Upper City!
"What a sly fox...."
Xu Liang rubbed his brow, feeling that Zhu Haoyi was just a sneaky character.
If he could catch the person passing information in Upper City... maybe he could grasp the case’s critical point.
And reverse deduce Zhu Haoyi’s true intentions, ultimately presenting him in court, leaving the judgment to Zhao Yi and Chief Judge Liu!
"Should I send someone to monitor him 24/7?"
Yang Ruoxi suggested.
Xu Liang hesitated a bit, then shook his head.
"No need, avoid alerting the snake."
Yang Ruoxi can watch him since it can be seen as Xu Liang’s determination to win by any means.
But if other people are sent to monitor...
It might backfire, making the person more cautious.
"Enough, it’s lunchtime, let’s eat first."
Xu Liang shook his head, preparing to cook.
Food is steel, and iron, no matter how vital the case, a healthy body is essential.
Only....
"Where’s the food? The fridge’s empty."
Yang Ruoxi excitedly opened the fridge, only to find it was empty, feeling disappointed immediately.
Xu Liang glanced at it and said casually:
"Go to the market and buy some."
