Chapter 121, Chapter 118: The Ailing Beauty

Jiang Zhonggen immediately dialed Secretary Liu’s number. As the secretary to the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, he was well-versed in the affairs of Jianghuai City. Upon receiving the call, he briefed Jiang on the details of Ye Chen’s case. Jiang Zhonggen asked with curiosity, "I hear this Ye Chen is quite honorable and loyal to his friends. Is that so?"

"Well..." Having served Jiang for a long time, Secretary Liu was adept at reading his superior's mood. Hearing the Party Secretary speak this way, he nodded immediately. "Yes, Ye Chen is indeed a good man. Not only is he honorable, but he is also a law-abiding citizen. The leads that led to the arrest of 'Bold Zhang' last time were provided by him. Furthermore, he has previously performed meritorious service for our city’s police force..."

Jiang Zhonggen nodded and said, "Alright, I understand. Do not interfere with this matter!"

"Understood!" Secretary Liu was stunned. He had assumed that the Party Secretary intended to protect Ye Chen; he never expected him to remain hands-off. Confused and feeling reckless for his earlier remarks, he realized for the first time that he had misread the Party Secretary’s intentions.

...

The next morning, Li Ruo woke up feeling as if her head were splitting—a pain far beyond what an average person could endure. As she opened her eyes, she found herself in a world of stark white. Looking closer, she realized she was in a hospital. She immediately spotted Lin Ziwen resting nearby.

"Ziwen, I... how did I end up in the hospital?" Li Ruo rubbed her head, her disheveled hair giving her a fragile, sickly beauty.

"Oh, Miss Li, you’re awake!" Lin Ziwen said, overcome with excitement. "You drank too much yesterday and suffered from alcohol poisoning, so we rushed you here."

"I see," Li Ruo nodded. Suddenly, she urged, "Call Liu Jiangqiu immediately and tell him to fulfill his promise!"

"Right away!" Lin Ziwen nodded.

After the call, Lin Ziwen informed her, "Vice Secretary Liu says he is away on business this week, but he promised to instruct his subordinates to handle the matter."

"That bastard, that old fox. He’s clearly trying to avoid getting involved," Li Ruo gritted her teeth.

Li Ruo’s assessment was correct. Liu Jiangqiu wanted no part of it. Early that morning, Yan Buer, the boss of Honghai Building Materials, had called him. Though the conversation was oblique, Liu Jiangqiu was a man of the world and understood the implication: give him a favor by staying out of Ye Chen’s case, and a million-yuan gift would follow.

Compared to the ten million Li Ruo had promised, Liu Jiangqiu felt Yan Buer’s one million was a safer bet. Moreover, once Jiang Zhonggen eventually moved on, he would need to partner with Yan Buer. Offending him now would jeopardize his control over the underworld and the political scene in Jianghuai City. That was the real reason for his "business trip."

"Miss Li, what... what should we do now?" Lin Ziwen asked nervously.

"We need to find another way!" Li Ruo gritted her teeth and stood up, though her legs trembled. Lin Ziwen rushed to support her. Li Ruo was baffled; she hadn't expected the ten-million-yuan temptation to fail. It was entirely out of character for Liu Jiangqiu.

...

At the Honghai Building Materials headquarters, Yan Buer sat in his top-floor office. Three henchmen stood before him while two beautiful, naked women busied themselves over him on the sofa.

"How is the situation?" Yan Buer gasped, trembling as he tried to maintain his composure.

"Mr. Yan, everything is settled. We believe no one in Jianghuai City will step up for Ye Chen," his men reported.

"Excellent!" Yan Buer grinned. "Once Ye Chen is in prison, have him taught a lesson. Then, we can step in and 'rescue' him. Won't he be eternally grateful to me then?"

"Mr. Yan is brilliant!" his men chimed in respectfully.

Yan Buer laughed, and the two women worked even harder.

...

With no one to help and others actively undermining him, Ye Chen’s trial was moved up by three days. On the fourth day after his arrest, he was brought to court. The scene was packed. Bold Zhang’s henchmen gathered in dozens, holding banners and demanding the murderer be punished. Yan Buer also sent a large group of his own men to apply pressure on the court.

On the day of the trial, Li Ruo and Lin Ziwen arrived. Seeing the chaos, Li Ruo felt immense pressure. She had tried to bribe the judge through Lin Ziwen two days prior, but the judge had been insulted by the attempt. No one knew that the judge had already dined with Yan Buer and accepted a 500,000-yuan bribe.

"Miss Li, I think... we should leave. There are too many people here," Lin Ziwen urged.

"No, we must go in!" Li Ruo gritted her teeth.

Lin Ziwen had no choice but to have two bodyguards clear a path. Li Ruo, along with Zhang Yantong, Feng Zhixiao, and others, entered the courtroom.

"Momo, why are you here?" Feng Zhixiao spotted Liu Momo being pushed around in the crowd. She was carrying a thermal food container and was drenched in sweat. "Move! Clear a path for Momo!"

Da Hei charged forward, his intimidating physique and stern face easily parting the crowd. When anyone tried to protest, one look at him silenced them. Liu Momo smiled gratefully. "Thank you, brother!"

"Momo, why are you here? Don't you have class today?" Feng Zhixiao asked, shielding her.

"I took leave. I’m here to bring soup to Brother Chen," she said, wiping sweat from her forehead. "I believe he’s a good person and will be released today. Once he’s acquitted, I want him to have some soup. He hasn't had a proper meal in days."

Feng Zhixiao looked down, feeling the weight of guilt. It was because of him that Ye Chen was in this mess. "Momo, you're right. Brother Chen is innocent," he said.

The group entered the hall. Everything was ready. The judge took his seat, and the bailiffs brought Ye Chen in. He appeared in a way no one expected: wearing no prison uniform, no handcuffs, and a cigarette dangling from his lips. He walked in with a smile, flanked by bailiffs who looked more like his bodyguards.

"Brother Chen! Brother Chen!" the fifty men Feng Zhixiao brought began to chant.

Ye Chen blinked, then smiled and waved. In the gallery, he saw a haggard-looking Li Ruo. He paused for a second, then waved at her. Li Ruo’s eyes welled up, and she covered her lips, whispering, "You idiot. Everyone is working so hard for you, and you’re still acting so carefree!"

That was Ye Chen. Even at the brink of despair, he would never die in a lowly, humble state. He would face his fate with style. Even knowing he wouldn't be released, he would not run away like a coward.

The judge opened the proceedings. The lawyers clashed, arguing over every detail and piece of evidence. Li Ruo had spared no expense, hiring the most famous lawyer from Beijing. The trial felt like a heated debate, with the gallery cheering and jeering.

After two hours, the judge struck his gavel. "After two hours of deliberation, the case is clear. Ye Chen is found guilty of the murder of Wu Wenqiang based on sufficient evidence. Under Article 292 of the Criminal Law regarding fatal group brawls, he is sentenced under the provisions for intentional homicide. However, considering his surrender, under Article 67, his sentence is reduced. I hereby sentence Ye Chen to fifteen years in prison, with permanent deprivation of political rights and a fine of 100,000 yuan."