Lanshan Province High Court.

In the pre-trial room.

"Why are there so many things these past two years..."

"I feel like since the latter half of 2004, there hasn't been a single day without trouble!"

"We just finished handling Zheng Mei's case a few days ago, now we have to deal with the 'Jinjiang Hotel Corpse Case'. In a few days, we estimate we'll have to tackle the Wu Yong case... thinking carefully, they are all from Hanhai City!"

"Sigh..."

"..."

In the pre-trial room.

A group of highly ranked judges gathered here at the moment, although they didn't feel overly pressured, they still couldn't help but click their tongues.

Indeed, they are the High Court, the judge team responsible for the second trial of the 'Jinjiang Hotel Corpse Case'!

Shi Shan serves as the chief judge.

Other judges serve as judges and in various other positions.

The difference between them and Zhao Yi, perhaps, is...

Professionalism!

Exactly.

Judges in the High Court tend to be highly professional, because very few small cases reach the provincial level courts.

Either extremely complex financial cases.

Or particularly serious criminal cases!

The former requires mental effort, the latter demands extreme caution!

As for the current case...

To be honest, the case isn't particularly complex, but the things it involves are extremely serious.

School, age, homeless individuals, cruel killings...

To put it this way.

Any one of these factors would already cause intermediate courts to adjourn repeatedly!

Yet currently, they're all mixed together like a hot pot...

"The second trial mainly depends on the plaintiff's performance." Shi Shan took a deep breath.

He's met Xu Liang.

After the Chen Dong case, he was one of the people sent down to handle Chen Jian.

Shi Shan calmly contemplated at this moment:

"The defendant side doesn't have clear evidence, only a very tricky angle."

"If the plaintiff performs well, the second trial... won't need to adjourn."

Thinking of these.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"How much time is left before the trial begins?" someone inquired.

Shi Shan glanced at his wristwatch and said seriously:

"Ten minutes."

...

"Ten minutes until the second trial begins!"

Hanhai City.

In a meeting room at the Intermediate Court.

Zhao Yi stood in front of the television, feeling extremely nervous.

He took deep breaths, watching the television still playing advertisements with bright eyes.

There's only ten minutes until the second trial begins!

"The second trial probably won't overturn the first trial unless Zhang Hao presents some heavyweight evidence," someone beside him said.

Zhao Yi nodded, but his heart remained heavy.

The second trial is superior to the first trial.

If the first trial sentenced to death and the second trial overturns it, then the first trial must take responsibility!

Not to mention, the factors involved in this case are very sensitive, if the first trial's judgment is indeed overturned... Zhao Yi might suffer great consequences.

However, this is the scenario if it's overturned.

If... the second trial doesn't overturn it!?

If the second trial doesn't overturn, this becomes an achievement! 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Judges also have performance appraisals; effective judgments might even allow for a position shift.

Although Zhao Yi lacks ambition and is mostly pushed along.

Yet if he can move away from Hanhai City, far from Xu Liang... he still wishes to be promoted!

"Three minutes left."

Looking at the time.

Zhao Yi murmured in his heart.

Beside him, the judges waiting for others to join the meeting subconsciously glanced over too.

Two minutes...

One minute...

Thirty seconds, ten seconds, three seconds...

The trial begins!

Suddenly, a news program appeared on the television!

Everyone watched solemnly.

...

...

"Squeak~"

Inside Lanshan Province High Court.

As the heavy door was slowly pushed open by the bailiff.

In an instant, countless figures appeared in the audience seats before him.

A rough glance shows at least twice as many as in the Intermediate Court!

"All rise, please welcome the judges." The court clerk opened their mouth, their voice echoing on-site.

In an instant, a sea of people stood up.

Shi Shan took a deep breath, wearing a robe, heading to the bench with his team.

This case being followed by so many...

He hasn't presided over many of such.

But Shi Shan's stress tolerance is incredibly high.

Shi Shan directly sat at the chief judge's position.

The people on-site also took their seats.

Shi Shan glanced at the material documents and began decisively:

"Will the plaintiff and defendant please enter the court."

At once.

From the two pre-trial rooms in the High Court, several individuals stood up simultaneously, led by the bailiff towards the trial venue.

"Squeak~"

The door opened.

In an instant, a vast courtroom scene entered Xu Liang's eyes.

Far more magnificent than the Intermediate Court!

Xu Liang proceeded expressionlessly with his team towards the plaintiff's seat.

Both sides took their seats.

Shi Shan nodded and continued with the procedure.

"This court will now hear the Hanhai City 'Jinjiang Hotel Corpse Case', with the first trial held by Hanhai City Intermediate People's Court. The first trial's judgment was made on February 9th..."

"According to the record, the defendants Du Ze and Duan Feipeng, on December 6th, 2004, in Hanhai City..."

"The judgment of the first trial is as follows."

"Defendant Du Ze, convicted of intentional homicide, intentional injury... sentenced to death!"

"Defendant Duan Feipeng, convicted of intentional homicide... sentenced to death!"

"Unhappy with the verdict, the defendants have appealed according to the law, and now Lanshan Province High Court is legally holding the second trial."

"Now, I announce..."

With that, Shi Shan's eyes sharpened, and his gavel fell directly.

"Bang!"

"Court in session!!!"

Court in session!!!

In an instant, everyone's spirits were lifted, and before they could react, Shi Shan turned towards the defendant's seat.

"Will the defendant's side please state your claims."

Upon hearing this.

Everyone's eyes focused on Zhang Hao.

Zhang Hao stood up with determination.

"Honorable Chief Judge, esteemed journalists, I am the defense attorney for the defendant, Zhang Hao, with permissions to..."