Xie Dezhao was in his early fifties. Between his brows, Gu Nianzhi could see some of the characteristics of the Xie's. For example, his tall, thin nose was sculpted, his eyes were slightly sunken, and his brows were shaped like swords. He was elegant yet sharp, but not as handsome as the Xie's direct descendants.
It wasn't Gu Nianzhi's first time seeing Xie Dezhao, but it was Ma Qiqi's first.
She was immediately captivated by Xie Dezhao's elegance and grabbed Gu Nianzhi's hand tightly. She whispered in her ear, "Oh my god! This is your uncle?! He's so handsome! This is the first time I understand why older men are so attractive. Just look at him … "
Gu Nianzhi quickly waved her hand in front of Ma Qiqi's eyes and suppressed her laughter. "Ok, wake up, Qiqi! If you keep being smitten, Brother Xiong will cry! "
Ma Qiqi pushed her hand away in embarrassment. "Pfft! What are you talking about! Everyone loves beauty. I was just saying. "Her voice became softer." … Don't tell Brother Xiong … "
"I know." Gu Nianzhi smiled and pinched her cheek. "Ok, you owe me one!"
As the two of them were talking and laughing, they caught a glimpse of another person getting out of the bulletproof car with a red flag. This time, it was a beautiful woman wearing a simple ash-gray double-breasted wool coat, custom-made trousers of the same color, and a pair of black leather mid-heeled shoes. She calmly walked over.
It was Huo Shaoheng's mother, Song Jinning.
Gu Nianzhi's eyes flashed as she sneaked a peek at the bulletproof car. No one else got out of the car.
The driver was already driving to the parking lot.
Gu Nianzhi's heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked away and greeted Xie Qingying, Xie Dezhao, and Song Jinning. "Mr. Xie, Miss Xie, Auntie Song, you're here."
Xie Dezhao looked at Gu Nianzhi and then at his daughter, Xie Qingying. He smiled. "You two are really alike. You're still calling me Mr. Xie? You should call me Uncle. She's your cousin. "
Xie Qingying was also very affectionate with Gu Nianzhi. "Cousin is so beautiful today. Are you ready? Don't be afraid later, we'll be on your side! "
Gu Nianzhi was amused by her and high-fived her. "Okay, then I'll rely on Uncle and Cousin!"
Song Jinning smiled faintly and saw that Gu Nianzhi kept glancing at the red flag bulletproof sedan as it drove away. Song Jinning smiled even more meaningfully. "I heard that this case has something to do with the Japanese scientist, Oda Masao, so I came to listen in. Shaoheng is busy today, so he can't come. "
Gu Nianzhi blushed.
She wasn't used to Song Jinning's sudden sharp observation skills and murmured, "Auntie Song, I know."
"You know? Oh, I'm being nosy. Shaoheng must have told you, right? "Song Jinning said as she naturally took Gu Nianzhi's hand and walked to the courthouse entrance.
It was Ma Qiqi's first time seeing Song Jinning up close. Ma Qiqi was so stunned that she didn't know what to do and couldn't even speak. She didn't chase after them until they were far away.
This time, when she entered Court A, there were more people on Nianzhi's side.
He Zhichu, Yin Shixiong, Ma Qiqi, Song Jinning, as well as important witnesses Xie Dezhao and Xie Qingying, as well as Secretary Cao, who arrived late at the last minute.
Speaker Long's Special Assistant Yang didn't come today. Instead, it was a low-ranking staff member from the Senate.
Gu Yanran had the same people as last time — a housekeeper, bodyguard, lawyer, and this time, there was an accountant.
President Zhan walked in and sat down in the judge's seat. He calmly announced the start of the court, "Gu Nianzhi v. Gu Yanran regarding the Gu inheritance case, the fourth hearing begins."
The judge knocked the gavel and began to confirm the identities of the people in court.
"Plaintiff Gu Nianzhi?"
"Here."
"Defendant Gu Yanran and lawyer Jin Wanyi?"
"Here."
"Witnesses Xie Dezhao and Xie Qingying?"
"Here."
The judge nodded. "Today is the fourth hearing. The main content is the introduction of two new witnesses by the plaintiff."
He raised his hand to Gu Nianzhi. "Plaintiff, you may begin your questioning."
Gu Nianzhi was wearing a custom-made navy blue cashmere skirt suit by Dior. She had a fitted blazer that wasn't buttoned up, revealing a snow-white silk shirt underneath. There was a bow tie at the collar.
The body of the half-skirt was slightly cocoon-shaped, but it was not too exaggerated. It just showed off her young and beautiful figure, but it was not too seductive. Instead, it was dignified in her beauty, and mature in her cuteness. It was very suitable for her age and identity.
Because today's hearing was closely related to her family background, Gu Nianzhi didn't want to be too professional and mature like the previous three hearings.
Therefore, she didn't choose formal business attire. Instead, she chose the more colorful Dior Autumn/Winter custom-made dress.
Gu Nianzhi slowly stood up from the plaintiff's seat and smiled at everyone in the courtroom.
Her long hair was tied into a ponytail, and she didn't have any makeup on. She only had a layer of transparent lip gloss on her lips.
Standing in court, she looked like a girl next door, but overly beautiful and exquisite.
She looked at Gu Yanran, who was sitting in the defendant's dock. Chanel was even more famous than Dior, but the black and white checkered herringbone dress suit looked so overbearing on Gu Yanran that it hurt the eyes.
Although Gu Yanran was the second most beautiful woman in the courtroom and was very gentle and charming when she didn't speak, Gu Nianzhi's outfit made her look like a grandmother.
During a lawsuit, as long as you stood in court, you would be scrutinized from head to toe, including your hair. This had a crucial impact on the outcome of the case.
Most of the mistakes that a new lawyer would make were in small areas.
Gu Nianzhi had a natural intuition in this area.
She was like someone born for the courtroom. Like those born with the qualities of celebrities, Gu Nianzhi was a classic example of a grandmaster's gift.
He Zhichu sat in the courtroom gallery and watched Gu Nianzhi act freely. His eyes were a bit dazed.
Gu Nianzhi was already in trial mode.
She nodded to the judge and summoned Xie Dezhao to the stand.
Xie Dezhao gracefully walked from the gallery to the witness stand and sat down. He bowed slightly to the judge and the people in the courtroom.
Gu Nianzhi walked over and asked calmly, "Mr. Xie, please tell us about your life."
Xie Dezhao was a businessman with his own large company. He sat on the witness stand and began to speak as if he were in a board meeting.
"I am Xie Dezhao. Xie as in gratitude, De as in morality, and Zhao as in redress of injustice." Xie Dezhao's way of introducing himself was very humorous. As soon as he finished speaking, there was a burst of friendly laughter in the courtroom.
Xie Dezhao raised his hand to everyone and waited for the laughter to die down before saying, "I had a first wife named Gu Tian. She was the sister of the owner of the assets in this case, Gu Xiangwen. But she passed away 27 years ago. "
Most people in the courtroom didn't know this news. Gasps could be heard in the courtroom.
Xie Dezhao felt a wave of sadness when he spoke of his first wife.
Gu Nianzhi stood in front of him and comforted him. "Madam Gu Tian must be watching from heaven. She wouldn't want to see you and Miss Xie sad."
Xie Dezhao closed his eyes and said emotionally, "Yes, she was always a kind and warm-hearted person. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be sitting here today. "
Gu Nianzhi waited for Xie Dezhao to calm down before beginning her interrogation.
"Mr. Xie, can you tell us how you met, fell in love with, and married your wife?"
Jin Wanyi immediately raised her hand. "Objection, the plaintiff is rambling again. Please don't waste everyone's time with questions that have nothing to do with the case."
Gu Nianzhi looked at the judge and said solemnly, "Your Honor, I will soon prove that these questions are closely related to the case." As she spoke, she glanced at Gu Yanran.
Gu Yanran was very calm today and didn't look worried at all.
Gu Nianzhi raised her guard, but she wouldn't stop questioning today.
There was no turning back. She had been waiting for this day for a long time.
The judge looked at the witness information Gu Nianzhi had submitted and said, "Plaintiff, please get to the point as soon as possible."
Gu Nianzhi thanked the judge and gestured to Xie Dezhao. "You can briefly tell us what happened."
Xie Dezhao thought for a moment before saying, "I met Gu Tian at a charity masquerade ball. She wore a butterfly mask and her figure was elegant and charming. I didn't see her face, but I had a good impression of her voice after hearing what she said."
Everything that happened after that was logical.
The Gu's had become one of the richest families in France at that time. Although they weren't as wealthy as the Xie's, they were a good match for Xie Dezhao.
It was only natural for a couple who loved each other and were of equal social status to get married.
Xie Dezhao recalled, "… But after I proposed to Gu Tian, her brother, Gu Xiangwen, told me something." Then, he glanced at Xie Qingying, wanting to say something but hesitating.
Xie Qingying nodded at him to let him say it to show that she had no questions.
Xie Dezhao's brows furrowed. Although he was reluctant, he still said it.
"Gu Xiangwen told me that his sister was in poor health and asked if I could accept it. He said Gu Tian might not be able to have children in the future …"
"I said it was fine. The Xie's are a large family with many children and grandchildren. I have older and younger brothers in my own family and have many sons. I don't care if I'm going to have children." Xie Dezhao paused and his voice became stiff. "Later, Gu Tian told me that it was my words that moved Gu Xiangwen. That's why he agreed to let his sister marry me."
Gu Nianzhi took notes as she listened.
Xie Dezhao had said some of these things to her before, but there were also things he hadn't said before.
For example, what was it that moved Gu Xiangwen so much that he changed his mind from opposing to supporting their marriage?
"And then?" Gu Nianzhi asked calmly. She was getting to the main point.
Xie Dezhao paused and looked down at the table in the witness stand. His voice was low.
"I knew Gu Tian was in poor health. I told her that she didn't need to have children. There are so many people in the Xie's and so many children. It doesn't matter if we have one or not. But she wouldn't listen and insisted on having children …
"… She was secretly pregnant with a child and wanted to give me a surprise. When I found out, I was extremely worried and asked her to abort the child. But she told me not to worry, saying that her brother was already prepared and that she would definitely be able to give birth smoothly."
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This was the first watch and today was the third watch.
A reminder for the recommendation votes and monthly votes ~ ~ ~
The second watch was at 1 PM. The monthly votes were 2,100 plus one watch.
The third watch was at 7 PM. Mwah!
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