Gu Nianzhi finished a hearty breakfast and was actually feeling drowsy at the moment. With the severe lack of sleep from the past few days and Huo Shaoheng’s embrace providing her with her incredible warmth and security, she quickly fell asleep in his arms.
Huo Shaoheng lowered the volume on the TV and adjusted his body to allow Gu Nianzhi to sleep more comfortably.
On the TV, Cai Shengnan was currently arguing with Bai Yueran.
“Your Honor – although my client is still Tan Dongbang’s wife, everyone knows that Tan Dongbang openly had an extramarital affair and their marriage is already broken beyond repair. My client hadn’t yet divorced him because she values their relationship as husband and wife, so she didn’t want to see Tan Dongbang’s career be destroyed.”
“As for Tan Dongbang’s actions, he has long excluded my client from his inner circle. My client had no knowledge of Tan Dongbang’s treasonous actions, so she cannot bear joint responsibility with him.”
“Furthermore, my client has also contributed meritorious behavior. I hope that the court will grant some leniency.”
Cai Shengnan finished speaking and gave Cai Songyin a reassuring look.
Cai Songyin breathed a slight sigh of relief.
She certainly didn’t want to be charged with treason like Tan Dongbang.
This kind of crime would only result in the death penalty or a life sentence. There was no third possibility.
Also, she really had no idea that Tan Dongbang was in contact with the Japanese.
If she had known that before, she would’ve divorced him much earlier and reported him as well…
Although Cai Songyin loved to play with power, she still had her own bottom line.
This shameless man who didn’t care about his own life or death was not worth any more of her effort.
Looking up, Cai Songyin saw Bai Yueran stand up and began to question her.
“Your Honor, the defendant Cai Songyin and Tan Dongbang have always been married and this is a legally recognized fact. As for the defendant’s lawyer making claims that Cai Songyin had no connection with Tan Dongbang’s treason, this was also free testimony. She is unable to provide any evidence to prove that there is no connection between the two. Conversely, I have an abundance of material to prove that Cai Songyin was in complete control of Tan Dongbang during the election. It is a blatant lie to claim she was not in Tan Dongbang’s inner circle.”
Bai Yueran didn’t even look at Cai Shengnan as she handed all the information to the court.
Cai Shengnan’s face was a bit red. However, she still stood up to say, “Cai Songyin belonged in the inner circle in the past election, but their marriage has been broken and in formality only after Tan Dongbang’s affair with Gu Yanran was exposed.”
“But the marriage was still in formality. If it was in formality, then it is supported by the law. As for whether it was broken or not, this is not something for the court to research,” Bai Yueran retorted. He latched onto the loophole in Cai Shengnan’s words and continued to beat her down, saying, “Lawyer Cai, you can’t do this. I am discussing the law with you while you are discussing emotions. How can you verify the truth this way?”
“I also have evidence here to prove that my client has been separated from Tan Dongbang ever since he had the affair.” Cai Shengnan turned around with a smile to look at the stern-faced Bai Yueran and said, “The divorce court recognizes such states of separation. Are you telling me that the military court wouldn’t recognize it? This is what I meant by broken and in formality only.”
Bai Yueran smiled slightly and said, “Oh, really? But even if Cai Songyin and Tan Dongbang’s marriage was broken and in formality only, they could still have maintained a close collaborative relationship. Furthermore, Hong Kangquan was the biggest culprit in this treason case. Lawyer Cai, can you explain why your client was in very close contact with Hong Kangquan?”
This was truly the most difficult point to fight.
Cai Songyin looked up slightly at Bai Yueran.
Huo Shaoheng promised Cai Songyin that he would try to get her the opportunity to become a collaborative witness if she revealed the truth. He also promised that they wouldn’t charge her for this in court.
If Bai Yueran was bringing up this point, did that mean she forgot about their agreement?
Huo Shaoheng also stiffened slightly as he sat in front of the TV. He immediately called Bai Yueran on her Bluetooth headset and said, “Director Bai, Cai Songyin has already reached an agreement with us and has become a collaborative witness.”
This meant that Bai Yueran should stop pursuing Hong Kangquan and Cai Songyin’s relationship.
Bai Yueran knew this too, but she felt that she should shake up Cai Songyin a little. If she silently allowed this incident to get wiped away, then Cai Songyin would really believe she got off because of her own greatness…
As expected, Cai Shengnan was in a difficult spot.
This was the hardest point to defend since she knew that Cai Songyin hadn’t told her about her relationship with Hong Kangquan until they arrived at the courtroom. The entire time prior to this, Cai Songyin had only said he was her best friend’s husband.
As a result, Cai Shengnan gritted her teeth and forced the words out, saying, “Hong Kangquan is the husband of my client’s best friend. May I ask what the prosecutor means by claiming that my client was in very close contact with Hong Kangquan?”
“Oh, really? Her best friend’s husband?” Bai Yueran sneered but didn’t pursue the subject any further. “Very well then, we will put aside this topic for now…”
She had already used her tone and gestures to make her attitude clear.
Sweat ran down Cai Songyin’s back as she finally felt like she was alive again.
Wiping the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand, she listened to the judge announce his verdict.
“The defendant, Cai Songyin, is found not guilty of treason. She is found guilty of election bribery and manipulating the election. The court will seize the assets of her companies that were involved in election bribery and manipulation. As she has displayed meritorious service during the waiting period, she is especially sentenced to five years imprisonment with one year suspended.”
If her sentence was suspended, that meant Cai Shengnan could help Cai Songyin ask for a further sentence reduction. As long as she didn’t break the law again, Cai Songyin may not need to go to jail.
This was the best possible outcome that Cai Shengnan could achieve.
Cai Songyin smiled bitterly, her head hanging low.
Although she didn’t’ need to go to jail, her future was completely destroyed now.
The only thing she was grateful for right now was that she was able to set up a trust fund for Tan Guiren in time.
It can be said that as long as Tan Guiren remained alive, she could withdraw money from the trust fund for her entire life.
Bai Yueran and Cai Shengnan both thanked the judge.
Both women were very happy with the sentencing.
After the trial concluded, Cai Songyin was released from court and went home with Cai Shengnan and Tan Guiren.
She squeezed Tan Guiren’s hand with worry and said, “Little Darling, you don’t need to worry about this. Mummy is ok.”
“I’m not scared.” Tan Guiren held back her tears as she said, “Everything is good as long as Mummy can come home.”
Cia Songyin sighed and said, “…I didn’t mistrust Huo Shaoheng. He really did grant me leniency and didn’t pursue things any further.”
If Huo Shaoheng had latched onto Cai Songyin’s relationship with Hong Kangquan, then the blogger’s murder case would certainly be dug up as well.
Hong Kangquan had killed the blogger for another reason, while Cai Songyin was only a scapegoat dragged down by his machination.
Tan Guiren was very touched as she wiped her tears away. “Mummy is a good person, and Huo Shao is a good person too. The good help the good.”
Cai Songyin patted her shoulder and said, “It’s already getting late. Did you make lunch for me?”
“Oh? Make lunch?” Tan Guiren was helpless since she only knew how to cook instant noodles.
Cai Songyin remembered that her daughter didn’t know how to cook, so she immediately took her phone to order two sets of takeout from a nearby restaurant.
…
Immediately after noon, Tan Dongbang’s trial began.
His case proceeded much quicker.
Because he was unable to hire a lawyer of Cai Shengnan’s caliber, he certainly was no match for Bai Yueran, the Director of the Legal Department.
Soon afterward, the judge passed his sentence. “Tan Dongbang colluded with foreign powers and used unscrupulous means to interfere with both elections. He is found to be guilty of disrupting the elections and election bribery, as well as treason. The initial trial sentences him to life imprisonment.”
Tan Dongbang instantly exploded when he heard this, shouting, “Why the hell did Cai Songyin only get five years, and I get life?! This is too unfair! I want to appeal!”
The judge peered down at him from over his reading glasses and retorted gruffly, “The Constitution grants you the power to appeal, but the result of the first trial will never be overturned.”
…
Tan Dongbang was taken away by the bailiff.
…
Soon afterward, Hong Kangquan was also brought in.
His eyes were glazed and he needed to be supported by two bailiffs as he walked up to the dock.
He hired a newly graduated and completely naive lawyer since no other lawyer would touch his case and refused it as soon as they were even offered.
Only a foolish and fearless new lawyer would ignore his superior’s wishes and attempt to flip the case upside down.
But this case involved the Special Operations Forces and national interests, so how could he expose it publicly?
Huo Shaoheng’s eyes were darker than ink as he watched the results emerge on the TV. He counted down in his heart.
“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.”
As soon as he finished counting down from ten, Hong Kangquan’s lawyer had been stunned speechless by Bai Yueran’s attacks.
Hong Kangquan continued to sit dumbly in the dock.
Huo Shaoheng counted down from five once again and the judge was already reading the sentence.
“Hong Kangquan is found guilty of treason. He caused his comrades to perish at sea and for many others to sustain injuries, and he sold high-level state secrets. His crimes are heinous, and he is sentenced to death to be immediately executed.”
Hong Kangquan’s dull eyes finally flickered slightly at that moment.
Then he seemed to wake up from a very long dream.
He listened to the sentence in silence before making one single request. “I want to see Huo Shaoheng once, before my execution,” he said.
“Why?” The judge remained expressionless as he said, “We require a valid reason.”
Hong Kangquan considered it for a moment then answered, “Let’s say it has something to do with what he cares about the most.”
This was also why Hong Kangquan had been arrested alive.
