Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 331 - 329 Mixed Doubles? Plea Conditions

Chapter 331: Chapter 329 Mixed Doubles? Plea Conditions

Tuesday, 4 PM.

Dongfang Capital Procuratorate Headquarters.

Inside the office at the very back of the Serious Crime Division Office.

"Yes, yes, Prosecutor-General, I understand, I understand..."

"This case is too involved, and our Serious Crime Division Office can feel the pressure, so we’ve decided to send out our trump card..."

"Ah, what did you say, the person has already been chosen?"

"To provide assistance, to send someone to be their assistant, they?"

"Prosecutor-General, did you just say ’they’? Isn’t it usually just one person who is in charge of the prosecution in our cases?"

"You mean to say, two people have been arranged to take on that Zhang Wei?"

"I got it, I got it, we will definitely win this time, definitely..."

In the end, Zhao Chunming hung up the phone with a forced smile, but the smile quickly faded from his face.

"It’s that Zhang Wei again, always taking on these difficult cases!"

"With the martial arts tournament recently, Dongfang Capital’s public security is also under significant pressure. Why doesn’t he take on those cases, insisting on taking the toughest one?"

He ground his teeth as he spoke with resentment.

But then, the anger on his face suddenly gave way to a cold chill.

"But that’s fine, we are sure to win this case. Since that kid is actively seeking his own death, we might as well accommodate him!"

With this thought, Zhao Chunming breathed a sigh of relief.

It’s good that Zhang Wei took on this case—this kid has become too arrogant lately; it’s about time for him to take a loss!

"Right, the Prosecutor-General also gave me a task. Since he has arranged for two prosecutors, then I should arrange two assistants for them as well!"

Zhao Chunming got up, walked to the door, opened it, and yelled toward the Serious Crime Division Office area: "Xiao Baihe, Tan Yingying, come over, I have a task for you!"

The two girls, called by name, stood up with different expressions and walked into the office, awaiting instructions.

At the same time, upstairs.

High Prosecutor’s Office.

Two people were gathered, discussing something.

"Senior brother, this is the first case I’ve handled since coming to Dongfang. I hope we can work wholeheartedly together and win it!"

"Junior sister is right, but we both need to be careful. This time our opponent is that Zhang Wei!"

"Where is senior brother’s remark coming from? Even if our opponent is Zhang Wei, what of it? Could he possibly be too much for the two of us working together?"

"Hearing you say that, indeed, do the two of us need to fear just one person?"

Lan Zhengye and Lu Wenwen, two prosecutors from the Dongfang Capital Procuratorate Headquarters, exchanged a smile at this moment.

Both of their eyes blazed with a strong will to fight.

...

Tuesday evening, Lin Mansion.

Zhang Wei received an unexpected phone call from his mother-in-law, Li Qinghua.

"Zhang Wei, I’m just giving you a routine notification."

"The court has already set the procedures for the case you’re handling. Old Chen will serve as the presiding judge, and I am the court clerk!"

"By the way, I have to tell you, the prosecution has two people, with Lan Zhengye as the lead prosecutor, and Lu Wenwen as the deputy. I heard that the Procuratorate Headquarters has also arranged two assistants to work on the case together; that makes a total of four people!"

"Of course, I still have to add one more thing—it’s something my daughter asked me to tell you, so listen carefully..."

On the other end of the phone, there was the sound of deep breathing, followed by Li Qinghua’s roar: "Are you looking for trouble on purpose? You even dare to take on such a huge case. Do you understand how significant the impact is? The prosecution deploys so many people all at once because they want to hit you hard, you..."

"Honey, since little Zhang has taken on the case, what’s the use of complaining now..."

Xia Donghai’s comment was heard on the other end of the line.

"I’m talking to Zhang Wei, what do you have to say? Go peel some sunflower seeds for yourself!"

"Peeling seeds again, eat less, it’s heating!"

"Shut up, I’m scolding Zhang Wei here, you... forget it, this kid has made me too angry, I don’t feel like peeling seeds anymore. You go mop the floor and tidy up the potted plants on the balcony for me. Go dig some soil from the green belt in the community, and don’t forget to water... What are you dawdling for, go on!"

"Alright, alright, I’m going. Just don’t make Zhang Wei mad; he might be upset now too..."

"Mind your own business!"

Overhearing his in-laws’ domestic squabble through the phone, Zhang Wei couldn’t help but laugh.

It was quite amusing to hear the old couple argue.

"Zhang Wei, what are you laughing at? I’m telling you..."

Ding!

Just as his mother-in-law was scolding him, a message came through on the phone.

It was from a WeChat group chat.

"Er, mother-in-law, I’ve got a case to work on, so I’m gonna hang up now, okay? You and father-in-law take your time chatting~"

"Zhang Wei, what do you mean by that? I’m at least half an elder to you, you..."

Before Li Qinghua could finish, Zhang Wei had already hung up.

Probably on the other end, his mother-in-law was about to explode in rage.

But with his father-in-law there to share the heat, it should be fine.

Zhang Wei hurriedly opened his phone; it was the message from the group chat, and the messages were flooding in.

[Xiao Baihe: Big news, big news!]

[Xiao Baihe: This time, Zhang Wei has gotten into a serious legal case!]

[Xia Qianyue: What is it?/Confused]

[Xiao Baihe: Silly, you definitely can’t guess what case it is this time/Bad smile]

[Jessica: It’s Doctor Qian’s case, Zhang Wei told me/Smile]

[Mo Yuzhu: I heard it’s for treason. My mom and dad were talking about it while chatting/Hehe]

[Zhao Xiaoxiao: The case with Pioneer Medical Technology, right? I also got some insider info/Pout]

[Xiao Baihe: ???]

[Xiao Baihe: So everyone except Silly, the idiot, knew before me/Shocked]

[Xia Qianyue: Xiao Baihe, what are you talking about? I’m not dumb/Angry]

[Xiao Baihe: Hehe]

[Mo Yuzhu: Hehe]

[Zhao Xiaoxiao: Hehe]

[Jessica: Hehe]

[Zhang Wei: Hehe]

[Xia Qianyue: !!!]

[Xiao Baihe: !!!]

[Mo Yuzhu: !!!]

[Zhao Xiaoxiao: !!!]

[Jessica: !!!]

[Zhang Wei: What’s wrong? I was just peeking at the screen. What about it, wanna all become parrots?/Confused]

[Xiao Baihe: Stop talking about that for now. This time your opponents are two high prosecutors, and I’m assisting them along with Ying Ying, so just wait to lose/Hands on hips]

[Zhang Wei: So it’s you two who are the assistants? I don’t care then, it’s just four losers teaming up; it’s a piece of cake.]

[Zhang Wei: SpreadHands.jpg]

[Xiao Baihe: Zhang Wei, go die!/Angry]

[Xia Qianyue: Zhang Wei is right, after all, they are losers/Hehe]

[Xiao Baihe: Humph, don’t be too proud of yourselves!]

[Zhang Wei: I am proud, what can you do, bite me?]

[Xiao Baihe: I’m so angry right now/Angry]

[Xiao Baihe: Zhang Wei, just you wait for tomorrow!]

[Zhang Wei: Slipping away]

Zhang Wei closed the chat group window and put down his phone, beginning to think.

"Lan Zhengye, Lu Wenwen, Xiao Baihe, and Tan Yingying. The latter two are not a threat; Lu Wenwen is average in strength, but Lan Zhengye is a bit troublesome."

"However, the courtroom is just that, a courtroom, not a martial arts conference, nor a street fight or something. They can’t all gang up at once. At most, the chief and the deputy will take turns speaking."

"So that means what I’m facing is a mixed doubles match against Lan Zhengye and Lu Wenwen?"

Just thinking about his opponents made Zhang Wei frown once again.

It’s one thing to handle a single person, but dealing with two high prosecutors is indeed tricky.

Should I find an ally myself?

But the question is, whom should I ask for help?

Who in Jincheng Law Firm can help me?

Tie Ruyun?

Old Tie was the first one that Zhang Wei passed up.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t capable, quite the opposite; Old Tie would be considered a relatively reliable teammate.

But as a department head, it’s clearly not appropriate to involve him in a major case concerning treason.

So the remaining candidates, Xiao Li... this also won’t do; Li Yueqin can’t withstand such pressure.

My little apprentice... forget it, forget it, I can trust her with small cases, but for big ones, I might as well do it myself.

As for the rest of the newcomers, even less likely.

Thus, all the colleagues that Zhang Wei could trust in Jincheng Law Firm were ruled out.

If not within the firm, then I must look for allies outside the firm.

Zhao Xiaoxiao, Jessica, Xia Qianyue.

These were the helpers Zhang Wei could think of.

Zhao Xiaoxiao would be in charge of gathering intelligence.

Jessica was within the medical system and could act as an advisor.

The martial power of Xia Qianyue would ensure my safety.

In an instant, Zhang Wei decided on the three candidates.

Just as Zhang Wei was about to send messages to the three, his phone rang again.

Unknown number.

Seeing "Unknown Number" on the call screen, Zhang Wei felt speechless.

"Hello? Who’s this?"

"Lawyer Zhang, you met Dr. Qian today, didn’t you?"

From the other end of the phone, a chilling voice came through.

This voice was the very cause of the trouble that had led Zhang Wei to take on this case.

The client of the case, Hua Chaofan.

"Mr. Hua, you’re probably not calling just to ask me that question. Before I hang up, I hope you can state your purpose for calling in the next few seconds!"

Hua Chaofan showed no surprise, as if he had anticipated Zhang Wei’s reaction.

"Chen Xianfeng!" he slowly pronounced a name.

"That’s the founder of Pioneer Medical Technology, right? Why bring up his name?"

"The CEO of Pioneer Medical Technology is his son-in-law, and the representative appearing in court tomorrow is this son-in-law too, but everyone in the industry knows that the real decision-maker of the group is him. So, I’ve arranged to meet him tomorrow night. Do you want to come along and meet him?"

"Meet the principal entity?"

"Lawyer Zhang, you also think that your main opponent is not the Procuratorate Headquarters but this person, don’t you?"

Zhang Wei’s eyes narrowed, sensing the implication in Hua Chaofan’s words.

"Mr. Hua, if I may be so bold to ask, do you know what trouble Dr. Qian Zhisui has gotten himself into?"

"In fact, I wasn’t aware of the accusation being something as serious as treason at first; I only knew he had run into some trouble."

"Then, let me be bold once more to ask: Dr. Qian never left the country, so how did you get to know him, and you hired me to fight his lawsuit—it is really for justice, and not for some other purpose, isn’t it?"

"Lawyer Zhang, you really do... like to get to the bottom of things..."

On the other end of the phone, Hua Chaofan suddenly laughed. Whether there was any sincerity in that laughter, only heaven knew.

"Anyway, tomorrow night at eight o’clock, Dongjiang Star Hotel, top floor VIP room number 1!"

After delivering this information, the call was disconnected.

Zhang Wei put down the phone, his eyebrows gradually furrowing deeper.

Hua Chaofan had actually arranged a meeting with him and Chen Xianfeng.

With that being the case, tomorrow’s schedule would be quite tight.

Not only would he have to attend the pre-trial conference, but he would also have to meet with the behind-the-scenes boss of the company after it was over.

"Never mind, let’s take it one step at a time. I’ll deal with everything after the pre-trial!"

Thinking this, Zhang Wei opened his laptop and began to get busy.

...

Wednesday, the day of the pre-trial.

Originally, Zhang Wei hadn’t expected the pre-trial to come this quickly.

On one hand, it’s because the case had been investigated for over a month, with the investigative department having completed their work and the evidence chain mostly collected.

On the other hand, it was because the representatives for both the prosecution and the defense had been confirmed and the judge had likewise been selected. Since the most difficult part concerning personnel was sorted, the scheduling of the trial itself didn’t need to be too complex.

Moreover, as the victim, Pioneer Medical Technology was pushing hard for the progression of the trial, even mobilizing media and other resources to apply pressure from all sides.

They portrayed themselves as the victims, fully accusing Dr. Qian Zhisui of his actions.

This was also one of the reasons why the pre-trial was set for the day after Zhang Wei met the client.

And now, Zhang Wei was waiting in the preparation room next to the main courtroom of the city court, waiting for the others to arrive.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Come in!"

"Zhang Wei, we’re here!"

The door to the preparation room swung open, and Jessica arrived with Dr. Wang Yali.

As a related party to the case, Dr. Wang was an important witness, and although it was only a pre-trial conference today, she insisted on being present.

"Where’s Dr. Qian?"

"He hasn’t been brought here yet!"

Zhang Wei glanced at the time; Dr. Qian was still en route.

The person escorting Dr. Qian was Zhou Xiaoli, and the escort team dispatched by the War Department consisted of her older cousin and the trio of Luo Qi Gaoyang.

For these individuals, Zhang Wei felt reassured.

But to transfer someone from Iron Island Prison involved a lot of complicated procedures.

"Zhang Wei!"

Another call, and the preparation room’s door was pushed open.

The person who could enter without a big announcement was naturally Xia Qianyue.

"Silly, you’re not busy today, huh?"

"Not too bad, the main thing is preparing for the official matches of the Martial Arts Tournament. The team has implemented a flexible attendance system for us; we commute when there’s a mission and don’t have to report in if there’s not!"

As she spoke, Xia Qianyue winked at Zhang Wei, "I came to see how you’re doing today~"

"That’s great!"

Zhang Wei nodded, smiling.

"Master, we’re here~"

The preparation room’s door was pushed open once more, the people from Jincheng Law Firm’s Criminal Department arrived, led by his own apprentice.

Old Tie, Xiao Li, Xiao Su, and the others also arrived in succession.

Although this case was a serious one, the newcomers all wanted to observe.

Seeing that many newcomers had come, but that some were missing, Zhang Wei couldn’t help but notice.

"They’ll all be in court too, but some are off to a minor courthouse, and others to courts in different districts," Silly said. "Everyone’s swamped with work, or they’re here to support you!"

The apprentice gestured towards the newcomers and added an explanation.

It was understandable. The newcomers had their own cases and couldn’t all come to support Zhang Wei.

"Alright, you all go ahead to the courthouse and grab seats. Guider Zhou will be bringing Doctor Qian here shortly. Their identities are somewhat special, so you’d better stay out of the way for now!"

"Oh, got it!"

With the apprentice in the lead, the entire Criminal Department said their goodbyes and left to seize seats in the grand courtroom.

In the waiting room, only Xia Qianyue, Jessica, and Wang Yali remained.

After a short wait, the main party finally arrived.

The door to the waiting room opened again and Doctor Qian walked in first, followed by the trio escorting him from Lin Mansion.

"Brother!"

"Brother-in-law!"

Xia Qianyue and Zhang Wei greeted Xia Qianjun in unison.

The latter was slightly taken aback upon seeing the few people in the waiting room.

Zhang Wei and Xia Qianyue together was one thing, but why was that blonde woman also here?

And judging by their looks, did they all know each other?

Something was off!

Very off!

As for Wang Yali, Xia Qianjun had seen the files; she was a witness related to Qian Zhisui.

"Eh, where’s Guider Zhou?"

"She’s a witness for the prosecution. She can’t have contact with you, the defense representatives, until the case is adjudicated or her testimony concludes!"

Hearing Xia Qianjun’s response, Zhang Wei muttered to himself in realization.

The spokesperson for the War Department was also a witness for the prosecution?

That meant the matter involved the War Department, and Zhou Xiaoli, as the spokesperson, had been subpoenaed by the prosecution.

"This is bad news."

The reputation of the War Department had always been quite good in the hearts of the people of Dragon Country.

If the War Department sided with the prosecution, it would be very bad for the defendant.

If the War Department supported the prosecution’s accusations, such support could greatly influence the jury’s thoughts.

Tough...

If it were possible to engrave words on Zhang Wei’s face, it would definitely read ’trouble’.

Knock knock knock!

Another round of knocking sounded.

After the visitor finished knocking, assuming the people inside were aware, he opened the door directly.

"Zhang Wei, I knew you’d be here!"

The visitor was none other than Xiao Baihe.

She came alone, without her little sidekick, Tan Yingying.

"Old Xiao, what are you doing here?"

"We had a meeting late last night to discuss, and we negotiated a plea bargain. I specifically came to tell you!"

"Wow, the pretrial hasn’t even started yet and you’re ready with a plea bargain?"

Zhang Wei’s eyes widened, at a loss for words.

Was she that confident, truly thinking she had already won?

Xiao Baihe looked around the waiting room and took in everyone’s expressions, then leaned in close to Zhang Wei, her face stern and frosty, "Have your client plead guilty. Our initial best offer is 10 years, with the possibility of parole in the last two."

"We’ve only offered such favorable conditions considering Doctor Qian’s outstanding contributions to genetics and science within our country. I hope you won’t be ungrateful!"

The condition, in theory, was rather favorable.

Because espionage is a serious crime, the minimum sentence is 10 years, and depending on the severity, it can even be life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Moreover, those convicted of this crime are usually stripped of personal liberties, with additional punishments like asset forfeiture; it’s beyond what most can even imagine.

But Zhang Wei just smirked, "Come on, Old Xiao, you’re a seasoned prosecutor. Isn’t it inappropriate to be so cocky before the verdict is even out?"

"You’re rejecting the offer then?"

"Of course, my client didn’t have any subjective intent to commit a crime. How could I possibly let him plead guilty?"

"We’ll see about that!"

Xiao Baihe knew Zhang Wei wouldn’t cave in so easily. After a cold laugh, she turned on her heel and left.

"Man, even prosecutors are beauties these days, huh?"

Gao Yang and Luo Qi’s murmurs broke the silence.

Xia Qianjun glared at the two of them, who then sheepishly lowered their heads.

Zhang Wei, meanwhile, glanced at Doctor Qian and Wang Yali.

"Let’s head to the courtroom!"

The pretrial was about to begin.