Dan Bohan spoke eloquently in court, and his arguments were reasonable and well-founded.
"… Although Song Jinning's condition was caused by an organic lesion, it was still a genuine mental illness. The nursing staff had to be very patient, and the nursing environment had to be comfortable and smooth. Song Jinning had lived in the Huo's attic for more than a decade. It was low and depressing, and there were more and more things in the room. These changes in the external environment would cause psychological discomfort for a normal person, let alone someone with a serious mental illness.
"So Song Jinning's illness became more and more serious, and in the end, she was already suffering from depression. If Dr. Chen hadn't acted quickly and discovered her illness, Song Jinning would've died and wouldn't have lived past next year. "
Huo Shaoheng had been sitting calmly in the audience the entire time. Only now did a trace of gloom flash across his face.
That was close …
As his thoughts raced, his gaze fell on Gu Nianzhi's face, who was standing ramrod straight in front of the courtroom.
To be honest, he was all too familiar with Gu Nianzhi's face from the time she was 12 to 18 years old. From the chubby and unattractive little girl when he first arrived to the manga beauty after she grew up, he was already used to it. He didn't have the shock that outsiders often had.
Huo Shaoheng didn't really care whether she was beautiful or ugly.
It was because she seemed to have become a part of him, a part of his life.
Huo Shaoheng crossed his arms in front of his chest and listened to the heated debate in court. Although it was intense, he could already tell that the other party had lost completely.
Gu Nianzhi still had one last piece of evidence, enough to send Bai Jinyi to hell.
Lawyer Jin was very agitated as he said to the judge, "Your Honor, although the other party has evidence and witnesses, I would like to remind you that their evidence is all circumstantial evidence. The other party's witnesses are also circumstantial witnesses. They don't have any direct evidence to prove that my client has anything to do with Luo Xinxue's murder. "
"Yes, my client did take the other party's husband's phone, but there has never been a law that says taking a phone is considered murder!"
Gu Nianzhi quietly listened to Lawyer Jin finish his concluding statement before standing up and retorting, "I would like to remind the judge that only circumstantial evidence and witnesses can be used to convict someone. There are precedents for this. Secondly, this case is not without direct evidence. "
"What direct evidence?! Don't spread rumors and slander me! " Lawyer Jin was furious. In his career as a lawyer, the worst case he had ever had was a settlement between the two parties. He had never lost a case before!
If he lost to a greenhorn like Gu Nianzhi, he really wouldn't be able to survive in the future.
Gu Nianzhi waved her right hand and glanced at the people in the courtroom. She said to the judge, "It's still Medical Examiner Zhu's autopsy report. He found Bai Jinyi's DNA under Luo Xinxue's fingernails. This meant that the two of them had fought before. Why did they fight? Think about the sleeping pills that were forced down their throats, and I think everyone understands, right? "
"Objection! The plaintiff's lawyer is once again using his imagination to replace the facts of the case! "Lawyer Jin was flustered and desperately objected to everything Gu Nianzhi had said.
Gu Nianzhi sighed and spread her hands. "Lawyer Jin, I remember during my first law class, a professor said that if there's a bird that walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, and eats like a duck, then it's definitely a duck."
Lawyer Jin was dumbfounded.
"… Just like your client, Bai Jinyi. She was with the victim, Luo Xinxue, a few hours before her death. She stole her things and forced her to take sleeping pills. After she left, Luo Xinxue died. We call people like that a murderer. This kind of logic is not baseless speculation, but common sense that normal people have. "Gu Nianzhi began to summarize her argument.
"What do you mean by direct evidence? Do you have to have a video of Bai Jinyi's murder to be considered direct evidence? " Gu Nianzhi raised an eyebrow at Bai Jinyi. "Bai Jinyi personally admitted that she killed for a greater purpose. Does that count as direct evidence?"
Lawyer Jin was tongue-tied and didn't know what to say for a moment.
At this point, Bai Jinyi decided not to say anything. She sneered and closed her eyes, refusing to respond to Gu Nianzhi.
Gu Nianzhi walked up to her and bent down to look at her closely. She suddenly asked, "Bai Jinyi, why do you care so much about the text data Huo Guanyuan received on his personal phone? I'll give you one more chance. If you tell me the truth, maybe your lawyer will have a chance to plead on your behalf. "
Bai Jinyi didn't even open her eyes. She sneered, "You've already convicted me. What else can I say?"
"Fine, I'll give this phone to Song Jinning. She's already recovered. The Institute of High Energy Physics should be led by a real scientist. It's a great blessing for our country's scientific and technological community that a fame-seeker like you is leaving the Institute of High Energy Physics! "Gu Nianzhi knew that only Song Jinning could provoke Bai Jinyi.
Sure enough, Bai Jinyi's eyes snapped open when she heard her words. She gritted her teeth and asked, "What did you say? Who are you going to give it to?! "
"Why do you care who I'm giving it to? It's not your phone." Gu Nianzhi tossed the phone in her hand. "You've been studying something for ten years and haven't produced any results. If you give it to Ms. Song, it might produce results in less than a year. I hope you can see Ms. Song produce results before you execute her. "
"Don't even think about it! Impossible! I couldn't figure it out even after thinking about it for ten years. It's impossible for her to figure it out either! " Bai Jinyi almost went crazy. She jumped up from the dock and was about to strangle Gu Nianzhi's slender neck with both hands.
Gu Nianzhi was agile. She quickly stepped back, holding the phone with one hand and pushed Bai Jinyi horizontally with the other, pushing Bai Jinyi to the dock.
Several bailiffs immediately rushed over and handcuffed Bai Jinyi.
The judge also warned her, "Defendant, please control your emotions. Attacking the plaintiff's lawyer is an additional crime. "
Gu Nianzhi walked back to the witness stand and handed Huo Guanyuan's phone to Song Jinning. "Ms. Song, we believe that the contents of this phone are related to your experiment. When the case is over, the military will follow up with you about the experiment. "
Song Jinning instinctively gripped the phone and nodded heavily. "I've been resting for 16 years. It's time for me to work."
..
Bai Jinyi's case would be officially pronounced by the Imperial Capital Intermediate Court three days later.
Bai Jinyi was found guilty of murdering Luo Xinxue. She had delayed Song Jinning's treatment and caused heavy losses to the country. She was convicted and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve.
Huo Jialan was not criminally responsible for Luo Xinxue's murder and was not sentenced, but it was clear to everyone that she had not saved her mother in time.
After the trial, she returned to the Huo residence alone. She packed her things and was about to leave the Huo residence. Grandfather Huo and Huo Guanchen both stopped her from leaving and made her stay.
When the court pronounced the verdict, Gu Nianzhi stood beside Huo Shaoheng. She was extremely excited.
This was the first lawsuit she had fought in her career!
She had not flinched in the face of 15 elite lawyers from the largest law firm in the country. She had almost become famous overnight!
She looked up at Huo Shaoheng and said in a low voice, "Huo Shao, you finally got justice for your mother and Ms. Luo."
Huo Shaoheng bent over and suddenly hugged her.
Gu Nianzhi was so excited that she wanted to hug Huo Shaoheng back. She secretly hoped that Huo Shaoheng was going to publicly acknowledge her status …
However, Yin Shixiong also turned around at that moment and bent over to hug her.
Zhao Liangze followed suit and hugged her. He even patted her head and praised, "Good job! Nianzhi, congratulations! "
Gu Nianzhi: "…"
She was so angry that she ground her teeth. She wanted to kick each of these two idiots!
She had thought that Huo Shaoheng was going to take the opportunity to announce his relationship with her to everyone, but it had been ruined by these two!
Sure enough, when everyone saw Huo Shaoheng hug Gu Nianzhi, they were stunned. Following that, Yin Shixiong and Zhao Liangze hugged Gu Nianzhi. Everyone instantly understood and couldn't help laughing.
This was a victory hug, a congratulatory hug, and a friendly hug.
No one thought of anything else.
Gu Nianzhi was momentarily discouraged. The happiness she had just felt suddenly vanished. She couldn't help pouting and losing all her joy.
Her gaze was fixed on Huo Shaoheng.
At that moment, many people crowded over, not to congratulate Gu Nianzhi, but to congratulate Huo Shaoheng.
This was a secret trial. Only the results of the trial could be made public.
Those who could listen to the results were already people in the industry.
They all knew that Huo Shaoheng was the person behind Gu Nianzhi. This victory was actually Huo Shaoheng's victory.
Therefore, after these people nodded to Gu Nianzhi, they all went to shake hands with Huo Shaoheng.
She watched him calmly respond to everyone and exchange pleasantries. He remained neither servile nor overbearing when dealing with people of a higher or lower rank than him. His gaze was calm, and his actions steady. There was no particular joy, but there was also no unhappiness.
All his emotions weren't expressed clearly and fully in that gentle hug just now.
That hug, for someone like Huo Shaoheng, was probably the best he could do?
Gu Nianzhi's thoughts ran wild, and her emotions couldn't calm down.
Her gaze involuntarily glued to Huo Shaoheng. She watched his every move, every word, and every smile, as well as the curve of his head every time he raised it.
She lowered her head and hid her almost greedy gaze in a corner where no one was looking. She couldn't let anyone see her thoughts. She didn't want to cause Huo Shaoheng any trouble.
If he wasn't willing to disclose their relationship, Gu Nianzhi wouldn't have taken the initiative to uncover this mystery.
Seeing Huo Shaoheng so at ease in front of everyone, she clearly knew that between the two of them, she was the one who was more invested, and even the one who took the initiative.
Therefore, she put the initiative of this relationship in Huo Shaoheng's hands. It would be great if he was willing to disclose it, but if he wasn't willing, she wouldn't ask for it because she trusted him.
When they walked out of the courtroom, the sun was very bright outside.
Gu Nianzhi looked at the white clouds floating in the azure blue sky before her, and the occasional white pigeons streaking across the sky, as well as the leisurely whistling of pigeons. She then looked at the back of the tall figure in front of her, surrounded by people. He was so close to her, yet so far away.
She forgot to hide her gaze for a moment, and when she looked at his back, she was a little longer.
Huo Shaoheng suddenly felt something and instinctively turned around. He met Gu Nianzhi's undisguised longing gaze.
He smiled at her and reached out a hand. "Nianzhi, come here."
Gu Nianzhi's face instantly lit up. Even the spring sunshine wasn't as moving as her smile.
She separated the crowd and walked over, placing her hand in Huo Shaoheng's warm and dry palm.
"This lawsuit is all thanks to Nianzhi. Without her, the military wouldn't have won so smoothly. " Huo Shaoheng praised Gu Nianzhi openly in front of everyone, and Gu Nianzhi was so touched that she almost cried.
She quickly lowered her head, looking embarrassed, but was actually trying to hide the tears that were about to spill out of her eyes.
After she swallowed her tears, she looked up at Huo Shaoheng as if she was looking up to her own god.
General Ji sat in the car on the side of the road in front of the courtroom and silently watched the scene. His gaze moved from the calm and smiling Huo Shaoheng to Gu Nianzhi, who was holding his hand. He couldn't help but frown.
He originally wanted to go out and meet Huo Shaoheng, but after some thought, he ordered his orderly, "Go back."
The orderly quickly started the car and returned to the Supreme Military Council.
Huo Shaoheng had just sat in the car with Gu Nianzhi when he heard his phone ring.
Only a few people knew this phone number, so it could be called directly without the Special Operations Forces operator transferring the call.
Huo Shaoheng took out his phone and saw it was General Ji's number. He quickly swiped it open and asked seriously, "General Ji?"
"Yes, it's me." General Ji was also sitting in the car and smiled as he congratulated him. "This lawsuit was well fought, and you made the military proud. She's a martyr's widow, so she can't just die like this. You contributed to this, and the military will record it for you after a while. "
Huo Shaoheng smiled. "It's my duty. Luo Xinxue is also my aunt, and the military still wants to record it for me with this kind of relationship. I don't have the face to accept it, so forget it."
General Ji saw that Huo Shaoheng was declining, so he didn't insist. He only said, "Okay, since you have a point, we'll record it in your file first. Shaoheng, you're the general that the military is focusing on grooming, so you can't make any mistakes. "
Huo Shaoheng thought it was strange, but he knew that his work was completely in line with the Special Operations Forces' rules and regulations, and his personal life was also very clean. He had never brought shame to the military, so he immediately replied, "Don't worry, General Ji. I've always obeyed orders."
"That's good, that's good." General Ji felt relieved and laughed. His tone was also much more relaxed. "I was just passing by the courtroom and saw you guys. There were so many people at the time, so I didn't get out to congratulate you personally. "
"General Ji came out incognito, right?" Huo Shaoheng thought about it and immediately understood.
If he hadn't come out incognito, he would have blocked off the entire street with his ostentatious appearance. How could he not know?
"Yes, I was worried about you, so I came to check on you." General Ji was very kind. "I'm relieved to know that you guys won. I'm almost at the military headquarters now. Call again when you have time. "
"Yes, Chief," Huo Shaoheng replied. He only put away his phone after the other side hung up.
Gu Nianzhi sat quietly next to him. She was very obedient.
Huo Shaoheng held her hand. "You've worked hard. Go back and have a good rest. It's almost New Year."
Gu Nianzhi looked at the bright sky outside the car window and smiled. "Will the New Year be very warm this year?"
"Why would it be?" Zhao Liangze replied from the front seat. "The weather will change in a few days. I saw the weather forecast. There will be strong cold air around New Year's Eve. It will be colder than usual."
She would have to go to school after the New Year.
Gu Nianzhi couldn't help but think of He Zhichu and the conflict they had in his study. She pursed her lips uncomfortably.
Just as she thought of He Zhichu, Gu Nianzhi's phone rang.
She took out her phone to see it was He Zhichu calling.
She didn't want to pick up, but Huo Shaoheng saw it too. He said dryly, "It's your professor. Why didn't you pick up?"
Gu Nianzhi knew that Huo Shaoheng was very careful and smart. He also knew her very well. Worried that he would see through her, she swiped her finger to answer the call. She put the phone to her ear and smiled. "Professor He?"
"Yes, it's me." He Zhichu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in his apartment with one hand in his pocket. "Congratulations, your first case was a huge success."
"There wasn't much I could do." Gu Nianzhi refused to take credit. "Huo Shao and the others were well-prepared. I was just a mouthpiece at the front desk."
"You're too humble." He Zhichu's voice was clear and naturally cold. He paused before telling her, "I've already seen the transcript of your trial."
Gu Nianzhi was speechless.
It was supposed to be a secret trial. Other than the trial results, nothing else could be made public. Where did He Zhichu get the transcript?
"You don't believe me?" He Zhichu sneered. "JD's Lawyer Jin is now the lead lawyer at my Monarch Descends Law Firm. The interview answer he gave me was this transcript."
Gu Nianzhi could barely breathe. "Isn't Lawyer Jin JD's lead lawyer? Why did he go to your place? "
"Is it strange? He lost the case and offended the Bai's, so of course JD let him go. I don't think anyone in the entire Imperial Capital law firm would want someone like him, except me. " He Zhichu said it casually, but Gu Nianzhi knew that many things in between weren't that easy.
She sighed softly. "Did the Bai's really do that?"
Bai Yueran didn't seem like someone who couldn't see things clearly.
"Of course the Bai's didn't need to make the first move. But the outcome of the case is in front of everyone. JD Law Firm still needs to stay in the Imperial Capital. Letting Lawyer Jin go is their attitude towards the Bai's. "He Zhichu seemed to understand the inside story.
Gu Nianzhi was speechless for a moment. "Then isn't Professor He afraid of offending the Bai's?"
"Nianzhi, are you worried about me?" He Zhichu asked lazily. His mood, which had been gloomy for the past few days, suddenly improved.
Gu Nianzhi said, "Bye, Professor He." She hung up decisively.
Huo Shaoheng narrowed his eyes as he sat next to her. He glanced at her. "What's wrong?"
"Lawyer Jin has already been fired by JD Law Firm. He went to Professor He's law firm." Gu Nianzhi shook her head. "It's just a lawsuit. Does it have to be like this?"
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This was the first update. There were ten updates today, and each update was 5,000 words.
O(∩_∩)O。
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