A madman in France? How come he's always at crime scenes!

Ni Dayong stood up, and the bailiff took half a step back to the side.

He first looked at the last row of the audience seats, where Ni Xiang was sitting.

He sat upright with his hands on his knees. Wu Liang had told him before the trial, "Don't let your father worry about you again."

Ni Dayong lowered his head, as if to confirm that he was still standing.

"presiding judge."

His voice was terribly hoarse.

"I'm not very educated, so I might say some things wrong. Please don't blame me if I'm wrong."

Guo Yong put down his pen.

"you say."

Ni Dayong nodded.

"I killed Ding Hu."

Zhang Jian raised his eyes.

Ni Dayong continued, "I know murder is illegal. I didn't run away when the police arrested me, not because I'm brave, but because murderers pay with their lives. I lied to the officer that day because I just wanted to spend more time with Cuilan and Xiangxiang."

He paused for a moment after saying this.

"I've thought before that if he comes back one day, I'll fight him to the death."

"But when that day actually came, I didn't feel like I was working my butt off. My mind just went blank for a moment, and all I could see were things from the past."

"When the first thing he asked me when I arrived was about my daughter, I..."

The voice suddenly went hoarse.

Ni Xiang's body trembled slightly, and Zhang Jiajing put his arm around her shoulder.

Ni Dayong composed himself: "He shouldn't have brought up Xiangxiang."

"He wants money, I can give it to him."

"One hundred, two hundred, five hundred, one thousand."

"Every time I see Xiangxiang wearing her old sneakers, I tell myself to just bear with it and wait until my daughter grows up."

"But what I didn't expect was that he was also waiting for the day Xiangxiang grew up..."

Ni Xiang finally couldn't hold back a low sob, her tears falling onto her school uniform pants, quickly soaking the area.

Zhang Jiajing quickly pulled her into his arms.

Ni Dayong heard it, but could only pretend to ignore it, afraid that if he looked, he would be unable to continue speaking.

"Your Honor, I admit that I have done many wrong things."

"I shouldn't have bought Cuilan. Back then, that's what everyone in the village said: 'Spend money to marry a wife and settle down.' But now I think that wasn't marrying her; it was locking a living person in a yard."

"No matter how good I am to her afterward, I can't erase the memory of that first year."

"She's afraid of people, and when she wakes up at night, she looks for the child. There was a time when Xiangxiang had a fever, and she wouldn't let go of her, no matter who tried to persuade her. When I got impatient, I yelled at her."

Ni Dayong's throat bobbed.

"But she was so scared that she knelt down immediately."

"That day I realized that when a person is scared for too long, their knees can move faster than their mouths."

"I never yelled at her again after that."

Some people in the courtroom lowered their heads.

"For the past fifteen years, I've always wanted to live a peaceful life. Once I've saved up some money, I'll renovate the roof. And once Xiangxiang starts working, I just hope she can find a good man to marry."

He smiled.

"As long as you're safe and sound."

Ni Dayong faced the judge's bench again.

"Your Honor, I've finished speaking."

He paused, then slowly bent over.

"I plead guilty and accept whatever punishment I am entitled to."

"I only ask for one thing. If I can't go back alive, please don't let Cuilan and her daughter be left without anyone to care for them."

There was no sound in the courtroom.

Wu Liang looked at Ni Dayong and sighed softly.

Ni Dayong ultimately did not follow his final statement.

However, the power of such simple language may not be insignificant.

Guo Yong picked up the gavel.

"The defendant has finished his final statement."

He looked at the two members of the panel of judges on his left and right.

"Court is now adjourned for deliberation by the panel of judges."

The gavel fell.

This time, the sound felt like it was hitting someone's chest.

Before being led away by the bailiffs, Ni Dayong looked back once.

Ni Xiang remained seated, as Wu Liang had instructed her not to disrupt order in court.

She just gripped her pants tightly with both hands, tears streaming down her face.

The recess lasted longer than anyone expected.

The two men from the Provincial High Court's Criminal Division did not leave. The younger one was named Zheng Yuan, whom Sun Jin had previously whispered a warning to Wu Liang.

"Zheng Yuan, Deputy Chief Judge of the First Criminal Division of the Provincial High Court. Remember not to say anything carelessly if you run into him."

Wu Liang replied, "I'm usually very composed."

Sun Jin rolled his eyes at him.

The court bell rang.

The group re-entered the courtroom.

Ni Dayong was brought back to the dock, his face pale.

Guo Yong sat down.

Everyone stand up.

The following is the criminal and civil judgment of the People's Court of Chuanhe District, Tongcheng City.

Ni Dayong raised his head.

Wu Liang stood behind the defense table, his hands hanging at his sides.

"The defendant, Ni Dayong, is guilty of intentional homicide. The facts are clear, the evidence is conclusive and sufficient, and the charge is established."

Ni Xiang's lips trembled, and Zhang Jiajing grasped her wrist.

"Given that the victim Ding Hu was largely at fault for the occurrence of this case, and that the defendant Ni Dayong had been subjected to extortion and threats against his family members for a long time, had limited criminal responsibility at the time of the incident, did not resist arrest after the incident, and truthfully confessed to the main facts of the crime, he is legally recognized as having surrendered himself to the police."

Zhang Jian closed his eyes.

"This court holds that the defendant Ni Dayong may be given a reduced sentence and probation in accordance with the law."

Ni Dayong was stunned, and the bailiff next to him glanced at him.

Guo Yong's voice was clear.

"The verdict is as follows: Defendant Ni Dayong is guilty of intentional homicide and is sentenced to three years imprisonment with a five-year suspended sentence."

The audience seats instantly rippled.

The gavel fell.

"quiet!"

"During the probation period, the defendant Ni Dayong shall be subject to community correction in accordance with the law and shall be ordered to receive compulsory treatment at a designated mental health center. He shall not leave his place of residence without approval. As for the incidental civil compensation, the amount shall be determined at the court's discretion in light of the victim's significant fault, the defendant's financial capacity, and the specific circumstances of this case."

Ni Xiang could no longer hear the numbers that followed.

Wu Liang had mentioned in her law textbook that probation meant she wouldn't be taken to a very, very far place immediately.

She covered her mouth, and sobs escaped from her palms.

Ni Dayong stood in the dock, feeling utterly drained. After a long while, he finally bowed to the judge's bench.

"Thank you, court."

Guo Yong closed the judgment.

"If you disagree with this judgment, you may file an appeal with this court or directly with the Tongcheng Intermediate People's Court within ten days from the day after receiving the judgment."

The gavel fell.

Court adjourned.

The crowd stood up.

Wu Liang did not leave immediately.

Zhang Jian was tidying up the case files when he paused for half a second as he passed the defense table.

"Attorney Wu."

"Prosecutor Zhang."

"I would advise against resisting this case."

Before Wu Liang could speak, Zhang Jian had already taken the case file and strode away.

Ni Xiang was helped to her feet by Zhang Jiajing. She tried to look towards the defendant's dock, where Ni Dayong had already been taken away by bailiffs to complete the formalities.

Wu Liang walked over to her and patted her on the shoulder: "We'll see each other today."

Ni Xiang looked up at him, her eyes wide open.

"real?"

"Probation requires paperwork, and compulsory treatment also needs to be coordinated. Don't rush, wipe away your tears first. He'll worry if he sees them."

Ni Xiang wiped her face haphazardly.

Wu Liang turned to leave when a voice came from behind him.

"Attorney Wu."

Zheng Yuan stood at the entrance of the courtroom.

He was in his forties, with neatly combed hair and eyes that, though not sharp, looked straight into people's hearts.

Wu Liang stopped.

"Zheng Ting".

Zheng Yuan smiled.

"Did Sun Jin tell you that?"

He told me not to say anything out of turn.

Zheng Yuan looked at him for two seconds, then his smile deepened.

"The Provincial High Court will review the case file of today's debate and submit it to the Supreme Court to study the standards for judging similar cases."

Wu Liang's heart stirred.

Is there a chance to be included in a guidance case?

Zheng Yuan continued, "The term 'expectation of possibility' isn't in the law. Are you afraid to put it in court without being rejected?"

"Afraid."

"I didn't notice."

"I may be scared, but I can't wait for my courage to grow up when I get to the case."

Zheng Yuan chuckled softly. People were coming and going in the corridor, and no one dared to get too close.

"If you want to handle criminal cases in the future, try to say less hurtful things. It's just that Guo Yong is quite upright; otherwise, someone else might not have believed what you said today."

Wu Liang nodded.

I will try my best.

Zheng Yuan turned around and took two steps, then stopped and turned back around.

"But don't hold back on saying what needs to be said."

Wu Liang looked up.

Zheng Yuan didn't turn around, he just waved his hand.

Zhang Jiajing leaned closer, her eyes still red, but she could tell what was going on.

"Boss, it seems like the Provincial High Court is praising you."

Wu Liang looked in the direction Zheng Yuan had left, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Stay calm."

"Your smile is almost impossible to hide."

"That's a professional smile."

Wu Liang's phone suddenly vibrated, and he took it out.

Meng Jiang.

He pressed the answer button.

"Attorney Wu! If you have time, come to Feishui. We've located the gunman and are preparing to make the arrest!"