What's wrong?

At the plaintiff's seat, the female assistant handing evidence to that litigator...

Wang Yao kept looking, gradually feeling she looked like his daughter.

No, she didn't just look like.

She was his daughter!

Looking at Wu Chengjun, whose face was full of anger.

Wang Yao kept a cold face, glanced at Wu Chengjun, then glanced at Li Yang, and took a deep breath.

"Get out!"

Wu Chengjun angrily said, "You really have no shame left!"

Li Yang in the corner.

At this moment, looking at Wu Chengjun, a sense of admiration gradually filled his eyes.

He murmured:

"Teacher, I've learned..."

...

...

January 26th.

Two days have passed since the trial.

The shocking reversal during the second trial of the case led to increased public attention, even reaching new heights.

Under pressure, Zhao Yi began thorough scrutiny of the case evidence.

Starting with Director Zhou's side.

In two days, Zhao Yi has caught a lot of people.

The third-party verification institution has issues, in January, Director Zhou bribed many people, which led to the evidence verification.

Meanwhile.

The court is gradually confirming the evidence submitted by Xu Liang.

During the confirmation, Zhao Yi and others felt unbearably anxious.

They had already reached a conclusion about the authenticity of the evidence.

The only uncertainty...

"What should we sentence?"

"Death penalty!?"

"Can we really sentence a death penalty? What if, this time, the verification institution is also wrong?"

"Neither of these lawyers are any good, one is solely profit-driven, the other completely disregards procedural justice!"

"But at least on the surface, we need to provide a true or false verdict on the evidence!"

"How could the identities change..."

"..."

In Hanhai City, at the Intermediate People's Court, in a conference room used for meetings.

The adjudicating panel sat inside.

Zhao Yi and others felt their heads were about to explode.

From a legal perspective, sentencing is actually very clear.

Either the evidence is fake, and Duan Feipeng is acquitted or sentenced to life.

Or the evidence is real, resulting in the death penalty.

But...

Can they really sentence it?

If Xu Liang also presented false evidence and after verification, it leads to Duan Feipeng being sentenced to death without having already been sentenced to 19...

Suddenly.

A pressure like Mount Tai crashed down on everyone's shoulders.

Everyone fell silent.

This isn't a minor issue.

Sentencing the wrong person to death, the judge will be held accountable, let alone sentencing someone with immunity from the death penalty.

Furthermore.

From a complex perspective.

This case should not be judged by them!

It should be handed over to a higher level, but because it occurred in Hongfu District, involving few people, it landed in their hands.

After a long time, someone finally spoke:

"Should we transfer it upwards?"

No one spoke.

Transferring it can only happen after the first trial is over.

As for their next court session...

They will have to announce the first trial verdict.

The atmosphere fell silent.

After a long time, someone couldn't hold their temper, turned to Zhao Yi, and urged:

"Old Zhao, pull yourself together, don't lose face!"

"You're the chief judge of this case..."

Zhao Yi, upon hearing this, immediately snapped, "I'm the chief judge, are you not a judge too!?"

In the adjudicating panel, the chief judge's authority isn't significantly greater than that of the judge.

"But no matter what, you're the one who ultimately announces the verdict," that person added.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi fell silent.

After a long time, he took a deep breath.

"We will sentence as appropriate, anyway someone has the final say!"

Who's responsible?

The second trial will be responsible.

New lawyers will take over this case, with a ten-day recess, new lawyers can't find a breakthrough.

The first trial will surely end, and the other side's second trial...

Must progress to a higher level second trial!

There, they have the power to overturn the first trial death penalty, and if approved... the first trial naturally remains unaffected.

And before this...

"Accelerate the investigation!"

Zhao Yi frowned, tapping his finger lightly on the tabletop.

"Set the court session for..."

"February 9th!"

Upon hearing this, no one objected.

And now... first find the plaintiff, Xu Liang, to verify whether the evidence chain is legal.

...

...

The next day.

At eight in the morning.

Inside Hongfu District's Conscience Law Firm.

Xu Liang had already washed up early and was taking advisory phone calls.

"Squeak~"

The front door of the law firm was suddenly pushed open.

"Why are you late again?"

Xu Liang was still on the phone, but upon hearing the door, he instinctively spoke up.

Hearing this,

The person who opened the door looked slightly surprised.

"What do you mean, late?"

The voice was somewhat gruff, completely different from the gentle voice of Yang Ruoxi.

Xu Liang paused, hung up the advisory call, and then looked up.

The visitor was...

"Oh, Judge Zhao, what a rare guest!"

Xu Liang raised an eyebrow, looking at the group of judges at the door with a look of pleasant surprise on his face.

The visitors were Zhao Yi and others.

Seeing his expression, Zhao Yi rolled his eyes.

At the same time, he glanced at the law enforcement recorder nearby, a sense of vigilance rising in his heart.

He came this time to verify.

It wasn't a private contact, so normally there was no grounds to accuse the judge of collusion and ask him to withdraw.

But given the prior issue with Xu Liang's bank card...

Zhao Yi still believed that being cautious was the best approach.

"What brings Judge Zhao to the law firm...?"

Xu Liang led everyone to the reception room before tentatively speaking.

"Just verifying a case."

Zhao Yi routinely replied.

Then he suddenly paused and added:

"The court needs your complete investigation evidence chain."

A complete evidence chain?

Hadn't I already submitted that?

Xu Liang hesitated, but seeing Zhao Yi's expressionless face, he thought for a moment and tentatively spoke:

"Um... does Judge Zhao perhaps feel that the evidence I submitted has been tampered with?"

Zhao Yi didn't speak, only sneered.

"Heh."

The evidence Xu Liang submitted was just superficial enough to pass scrutiny and make sense on the surface.

The other judges also looked expressionlessly at Xu Liang.

Xu Liang remained silent.

What should he say?

Say that he threatened the hotel owner to get the records of the full moon banquet?

Or say that he directly violated Zhang Li's privacy?

It certainly couldn't have been using Du Ze to fish for information at School 18...

"The court just wants to understand in detail, you know that the scene of this case requires very strict evidence verification."

Zhao Yi spoke expressionlessly.

He didn't even bother touching the hot tea Xu Liang prepared for him.

You're a bit presumptuous!

Xu Liang's expression remained unchanged, but... he was already prepared!

He found two documents he had prepared half a month ago from a drawer in his office.

"These are the evidence of two police officers' involvement."

"Do you want to see the investigation warrant?"

"As for the hotel investigation... oh, that was given to me by the police as well."

Xu Liang pulled out a pile of 'legal and compliant' evidence.

Zhao Yi looked through each piece, pausing for a few seconds each time he glanced at Xu Liang's eyes.

After a long time...

Once he had finished reviewing them, Xu Liang kindly reminded him:

"How about it?"

He's law-abiding.

He hadn't broken any laws during the investigation!

No one could point out any problems.

"You..."

Zhao Yi looked at the documents and then at Xu Liang.

"Your Honor, if you ask me, just make a judgment directly."

Xu Liang spoke first:

"The evidence I provided is legal and compliant, and it's all genuine. I personally don't think it requires in-depth verification."

If they keep digging, he'd have to make up new stories...

"Heh, this is procedure!"

Zhao Yi said sternly.

He came this time just to tell Xu Liang that when it comes to litigation, you have to follow procedures, you have to follow the process!

Otherwise, there will be a thorough investigation!

If the evidence doesn't follow the procedure, then the court will scrutinize it rigorously and treat some ironclad evidence as doubtful, and you have to accept it!

"I understand, procedural justice."

Xu Liang nodded and then added:

"It's just that this time I really do adhere to procedural justice!"

This time, but what about last time?

Zhao Yi hesitated for a moment.

But looking at the things in his hands, he finally sighed, put on a grim face, and prepared to leave with the documents.

Seeing this.

Xu Liang paused, stood up, and said:

"Judge Zhao, aren't you going to stay a bit longer?"

Zhao Yi's face turned even darker, and his steps quickened slightly.

If not for the procedure, he wouldn't want to stay a second longer with Xu Liang!

However...

Just as he opened the door, he bumped into a girl with reddened cheeks from the cold.

"Senior, I'm here to work."

Su Yu skirted past a few old men, hurriedly clocked in, and then exhaled into her cupped palms.

She was late too.

But it's okay, Xu Liang forgives her because there's a case at hand.

Zhao Yi averted his gaze, just about to leave when suddenly he heard a voice at his ear.

"By the way, how's that case of yours going?"