The Supreme Beauty Fell in Love with Me

Tang Yumeng was startled and immediately at a loss. It seemed that Song Ming indeed had a well-thought-out strategy. Tang Yumeng's eyes reddened slightly, and she bit her red lips, saying, "Is there really... really no way at all?"

"How about this, I'll go meet the presiding judge first," Zhong Wenyi said through gritted teeth. "I have a good relationship with him, I'll go feel out the situation there first."

"Right!" Tang Yumeng nodded and said, "Then I'll leave this matter to you, Lawyer Zhong. I'm counting on you for everything."

"Don't worry," Zhong Wenyi nodded and said: "I'll do my utmost."

After finishing, Zhong Wenyi hurriedly grabbed his briefcase and left in a hurry.

The judge dispatched from the central government was a man in his forties, very thin, but energetic. He was staying in a suite at the Golden Shield Hotel. At this moment, Song Ming and others were already sitting inside, all extremely deferential.

Officials from Beijing held significant clout when they were in the localities. Usually referred to as 'Xiao Li,' 'Xiao Liu,' 'Xiao Zhang'... and so on in Beijing, once they were back in their localities, they became Director Li, Director Liu, Secretary Zhang...

The middle-aged man was only a deputy county-level official in the Ministry of Justice, while Song Ming was a department-level official. There was a two-rank difference between them. Yet, when Song Ming saw him, he kept calling him "Director Zhang," one after another.

"Secretary Song, you can rest assured about this case. The old minister has already talked to me about it," Zhang Tianhua smiled and then said: "This case is pretty much clear. Lin Chuan has no respect for the law, commits murder without blinking; the case is grave and of broad impact. Therefore... a death sentence is inevitable."

"Then, thanks a lot to Director Zhang." Having finished speaking, Song Ming hastily handed over a brown envelope, saying, "This is a little token of appreciation. I hope Director Zhang can be in my corner."

"Secretary Song, this really shouldn't be done," Zhang Tianhua hurriedly pushed it back, saying earnestly: "As servants of the party and nation, we must resolutely not engage in bribery. As officials, we must ensure to stand straight and not fear a crooked shadow, seriously implement the eight-point regulations."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Seeing that Zhang Tianhua was resolute in refusing, Song Ming could only awkwardly take the item back and then said embarrassedly: "I am overwhelmed with grief that I've resorted to this violation. I hope Director Zhang can understand."

"I understand," Zhang Tianhua smiled: "Having this position, I've seen a lot of such things."

Knock knock knock...

At this time, a sequence of knocking sounds came through.

The last official on the scene immediately opened the door, Zhong Wenyi was slightly taken aback, then chuckled and said: "Oh, Vice Secretary Song brought so many people to meet the special commissioner?"

Everyone looked at Zhong Wenyi. It was known that Zhong Wenyi was Lin Chuan's defense lawyer. Therefore, everyone regarded him with an unfriendly gaze.

"What are you doing here?" Song Ming asked, frowning.

"Why can't I come?" Zhong Wenyi smiled slightly and said, "I'm also old friends with Tianhua. It's rare to run into an old friend here, can't I just meet up and have a chat? Is there a law stating that I can't do that?"

Song Ming curiously looked at Zhang Tianhua, who nodded slightly and said: "Vice Secretary Song, you all go back first. I want to have a good chat with Zhong Wenyi."

"Alright, then we'll take our leave," Song Ming nodded, then got up to leave. Before departing, he said, "Director Zhang, remember to give my regards to my mentor later on."

"Of course," Zhang Tianhua nodded.

After they had gone, the door closed.

"That lad didn't forget to use the old minister to apply pressure on you on his way out," Zhong Wenyi said with a chuckle.

"Yes!" Zhang Tianhua nodded and said: "That's why this job of mine isn't easy at all. You have to be understanding of me."

"So it seems you've made up your mind to take this case to the end?" Zhong Wenyi inquired.

"Yes," Zhang Tianhua nodded firmly and said: "The old minister has been kind to me. He personally approached me yesterday to come here to judge this case and he talked about the grief Secretary Song has from losing his son in his old age. Alas..."

"Then, do you understand the whole case?" Zhong Wenyi asked seriously.

"Of course!" Zhang Tianhua immediately nodded, saying: "I've already got a general understanding of the case."

"No, you don't understand," Zhong Wenyi smiled and said: "All you understand comes from the police station, the judicial system, and the account from Song Ming himself. However, you haven't delved deeper into the case."

"I've looked through the police station and judicial system's case files, is there still something wrong?" Zhang Tianhua asked puzzled.

"There are problems. There are big issues involved," Zhong Wenyi immediately said.

"What do you mean?" Zhang Tianhua asked curiously.

"Song Ming has been operating in Jiangbei City for many years, his roots are deep, and basically all the public, prosecutors, and legal authorities are his people now," Zhong Wenyi said with a smile: "These case files are all one-sided only."

"Lawyer Zhong, let me ask you just one question," Zhang Tianhua said seriously as he looked at Zhong Wenyi.

"Go ahead," Zhong Wenyi nodded immediately.

Zhang Tianhua looked solemnly at Zhong Wenyi, but Zhong Wenyi did not care about Zhang Tianhua's question at all. Because he held justice in his heart, he had nothing to fear. Zhang Tianhua seriously looked at Zhong Wenyi, then said, "My question is, did Lin Chuan commit murder?"

"He did!" Zhong Wenyi nodded immediately.

"Then isn't that settled?" Zhang Tianhua smiled and said, "Since that's the fact, since the nature of the case has been determined, then there's nothing much to discuss."

Zhong Wenyi smiled and said: "Indeed, Lin Chuan is guilty, but he definitely does not deserve death!"

"Not deserving death?" Zhang Tianhua laughed and said, "What a joke. Lin Chuan killed someone in public, not to mention Song Hao's case, just the Northeast Tiger's case alone is shocking enough, the nature of the case is gruesome, and it has a huge impact. Lawyer Zhong, as a righteous lawyer, can't you hear the outcry from the public opinion outside? How many people are sincerely calling for a severe punishment for Lin Chuan."

"Director Zhang, how can you be as ignorant as those ignorant people outside?" Zhong Wenyi asked coldly.

"What do you mean by that?" Zhang Tianhua asked.

"Do you know why Lin Chuan killed?" Zhong Wenyi smiled and said: "As a lawyer, I have to conduct a lot of investigations, including any murder motives. Do you know what Lin Chuan's motive for killing was? Do you think he is really a cold-blooded murderer who doesn't blink an eye while killing?"

"Hatred for the rich, conflict, the clash between the poor second-generation and the official second-generation," Zhang Tianhua sneered and said, "Isn't that Lin Chuan's motive for killing?"

"Is that the result of your investigation?" Zhong Wenyi countered.

"Yes," Zhang Tianhua immediately nodded.

"Then I will tell you, if that's what you think, then you are greatly mistaken," Zhong Wenyi said with a sneer.

"Well then, tell me." Zhang Tianhua lit a cigarette and said, "I'm very curious, what are the results of the investigation by the upstanding Lawyer Zhong, and what are your so-called results."

Zhong Wenyi sat down on the sofa with a flop, then pulled out a scroll from his bag and said, "Take a look for yourself. The investigation results from start to finish. All the truths are inside."

Curious, Zhang Tianhua leaned over and began reading these case files.

All the matters within the case files were recorded down, almost everything had been logged in the files. When Zhang Tianhua finished reading them, he was stunned, and he said in confusion, "Strange, why does this differ from what I know?"

"Didn't I say it!" Zhong Wenyi sneered and said, "What you know is all prepared by Song Ming. What I know are the facts, after visiting many places and interviewing many witnesses, collecting a lot of testimonies. My version is more persuasive than Song Ming's."

Zhang Tianhua was taken aback, then with a cigarette in his mouth, he said, "You make some sense, but now I don't trust anyone, I only trust myself."

"That's fine too, if you want to visit them yourself, you can!" Zhong Wenyi immediately said.

"No, you might not quite understand what I mean!" Zhang Tianhua shook his head and said, "Lawyer Zhong, you might not quite understand me, what I mean is, I… now may think that the process of the case is not important, what is important now is the result. That is, the result of the trial."

"Are you saying, no matter the nature of the case, no matter the truth of the matter, Lin Chuan is bound to die?" Zhong Wenyi frowned.

"Yes!" Zhang Tianhua immediately nodded.

"Is this the intention of the old minister?" Zhong Wenyi asked.

"Yes!" Zhang Tianhua nodded and said, "Lawyer Zhong, although we have been good friends for many years, on this matter, I really can't help you. I hope you can understand me."

"Understood." Zhong Wenyi nodded, then with an icy expression, he packed away the thick case file he had taken out and said, "When you are in the official circles, you can't help yourself. I still understand this."

"How about you drop the case," Zhang Tianhua suddenly said. "In this way, it won't affect your reputation, and your name as the top lawyer in Beijing won't be impacted either."

"No!" Zhong Wenyi immediately shook his head, then said, "It has always been the clients who dismiss me, not the other way around. I am a lawyer, a righteous lawyer, so I must see this case through to the end."

"My friend, why bother?" Zhang Tianhua helplessly patted Zhong Wenyi's shoulder and said, "I really cannot control my own situation now, otherwise, how could I not help you? I really have no way to help you."

"I understand," Zhong Wenyi nodded and then said, "But is there really absolutely no room for maneuver in this matter?"

"None." Zhang Tianhua shook his head and then said, "There truly is no room for maneuver in this matter. I hope you can understand. If you want to withdraw, do it soon, and if you don't want to, then I can't force you."