Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 513 - 509: Old Cao in Panic? Mo Juren Goes to Court

Chapter 513: Chapter 509: Old Cao in Panic? Mo Juren Goes to Court

Zheng Fenyong and Dr. Cao’s coordinated effort had refocused the entire courtroom’s attention on the defendant.

Did you or did you not tamper with the body over 20 years ago?

During that time, there were no cameras, nor was there anyone else present, leaving only you and the corpse alone in the office.

You claim you did nothing to the body, but we find that hard to believe.

Thus, this question doesn’t really require an answer.

In the eyes of those who believe in conspiracy theories, the answer was determined long ago.

They’re convinced, absolutely certain, that Yang Chunyuan tampered with the corpse.

The direction of the court’s sentiment had begun to change, becoming more intense.

If a gentle breeze had been blowing before, it was now a stormy gale.

This tempest bore down on the defense bench, swept over Yang Chunyuan, who showed her helplessness.

"Lawyer Zhang, I really didn’t tamper with the body, please believe me!"

Facing skepticism, Yang Chunyuan could only assure Zhang Wei with those words.

"I understand, Forensic Yang, I get it!"

Her words and expressions seemed utterly genuine, at least to Zhang Wei, who believed her.

But it’s useless if only one person believes; the jury and the observers must also be convinced, or it’s all for naught.

In the courtroom.

Zheng Fenyong nodded at Dr. Cao as a token of thanks.

"Judge Liu, our side has finished questioning this witness!"

Having achieved his goal, Zheng Fenyong quickly retreated to the prosecution bench.

Now, the pressure was on Zhang Wei.

"Lawyer Zhang, what’s your plan?" Yang Chunyuan looked over.

Mo Yuzhu was also watching intently.

But Zhang Wei simply smiled and pointed to the witness stand.

"Quite simple, I may not be able to solve the problem, but I can deal with the person who created it!"

And of course, that person was Dr. Cao!

So, with a courtroom full of skeptical eyes upon him, Zhang Wei confidently approached the bench.

"Hello, Old Cao!"

"Uh..."

Dr. Cao was taken aback, slightly bewildered.

Are you referring to me with that ’Old Cao’?

"Well, young attorney, although I’ve retired, I’d prefer if you called me Dr. Cao."

"Alright, Old Cao, got it, Old Cao!"

"Uh..."

Dr. Cao internally ranted, Can’t this brat understand human language?

Forget it—it’s just a title, don’t get hung up on it.

He thought it over and decided to prepare for Zhang Wei’s questioning; getting stuck on a title was pointless.

"Lawyer Zhang, go ahead and ask anything, I shall withhold nothing!"

"Okay, Old Cao."

Dr. Cao’s mouth twitched. He was clearly still uncomfortable with the moniker "Old Cao."

"Tell me, you testified earlier that you have been colleagues with my client for over 20 years?"

"Yes."

"How is your relationship with my client?"

"Well, of course it’s good. My head doesn’t go up without seeing hers go down, we all came out of the same office, how could it not be?"

As he spoke, Dr. Cao even threw a smile toward Yang Chunyuan at the defense bench.

"Plus, when little Yang first joined the Forensic Office, I was the one who trained her. So, in my eyes, she is both a colleague and a disciple!"

"Hmm, your disciple, huh."

Zhang Wei nodded in acknowledgment.

"Old Cao, although you said a lot, I haven’t heard a single sentence from you that suggests a good relationship with my client!"

"Ah, this..."

Dr. Cao was annoyed. He thought, after all I’ve said, you didn’t believe a word?

My friendship with little Yang has lasted for over 20 years, as colleagues, and as master and apprentice, how could our relationship be anything but good?

"Old Cao, let me ask you, you’re retired now, right?"

"Yes, now I spend my days gardening and tending flowers, it’s so carefree and comfortable."

"Retired, how wonderful, living a pastoral life every day, free of all work stress, truly enviable!"

"That’s right, that’s right..." Dr. Cao chuckled, his expression somewhat perfunctory.

"By the way, Old Cao, you must have felt quite unwilling, right?"

"Ah, unwilling about what?"

Zhang Wei’s question caused Dr. Cao to pause slightly again.

"Dr. Cao, as far as I know, you were initially the head of the crime scene forensic medicine office. When the higher-ups decided to open Dongfang Capital’s First Forensic Office, you were the most favorable candidate for the job, weren’t you?"

"This..."

Dr. Cao looked at Yang Chunyuan, unsure whether to nod or shake his head.

Logically speaking, he was indeed the most favorable candidate for heading the First Forensic Office initially.

But then little Yang cracked a major case; the ensuing fame caught the attention of the higher-ups, and despite her youth, she was considered for the position.

Everyone knows what happened next. Although both Dr. Cao and Yang Chunyuan entered the newly established First Forensic Office, the position of leader did not go to the more experienced Dr. Cao, but to Yang Chunyuan.

"So, Dr. Cao, did you possibly harbor resentment, or even jealousy, towards my client when you did not become the head of the First Forensic Office?"

"This, little Yang’s selection as the head was also a recognition of her ability!" Dr. Cao, his forehead sweating, quickly said a good word for Yang Chunyuan.

"Oh, is that so? But just now, you said my client’s style is a bit extreme, her attitude paranoid, even frightening to people, didn’t you?"

Zhang Wei scratched his head, feigning puzzlement, "If my client’s appointment as the head won your genuine approval, how come you still have issues with her?"

"This..." Dr. Cao suddenly felt flustered.

"Old Cao, there are no outsiders here, just tell me honestly, have you ever felt resentment or even jealousy towards my client..."

Zhang Wei asked as he leaned in close to Dr. Cao and whispered, "Even under circumstances when there were no bystanders around, did you speak ill of my client?"

"Ah, this... that’s not the case, there’s really nothing like that..." Dr. Cao hurriedly denied.

How could he possibly admit to such things.

"Old Cao, that’s where you’re wrong. How can you not acknowledge what you’ve done and said?"

Zhang Wei spoke and hurried back to the defenses’ bench to get a report from Mo Yuzhu.

"What I hold in my hand is an interrogation report from the staff of the First Forensic Office, your and my client’s colleagues. Guess what they all said about you?"

"What did they say?"

Dr. Cao was also curious.

"They said something like this..."

Zhang Wei flipped open the record, speaking in a mocking tone:

"Dr. Cao, he relies too much on his seniority, always likes to adopt a superior attitude to lecture us, given his over thirty years in the investigation department."

"Exactly, occasionally when there’s a task, he’ll say he has things to handle and likes to pass the work to us. We later found out that his ’things’ were often trading stocks or having a bird-walking appointment on the weekend, all personal matters."

"Right, Dr. Cao had some issues with Forensic Yang, especially since he always said he should have been the one to head the First Forensic Office but was overtaken by Forensic Yang."

"Yes, I’ve heard him complain more than once, especially when he sat alone in a corner of the cafeteria, mumbling to himself, thinking we couldn’t hear."

"I think in the years before he retired, his mind was already planning his post-retirement life, whether it’s gardening, bird keeping, or trading stocks, surely not focused on his work."

As Zhang Wei read the interrogations aloud one by one, Dr. Cao’s face grew increasingly unpleasant.

"Old Cao, not to blame you, but you have to have the courage to take responsibility for what you’ve done. Look at you, lying in front of the court, isn’t that inappropriate?"

Zhang Wei said, walking over to Dr. Cao with a chuckle.

"Cough, indeed, as Lawyer Zhang said, Dr. Cao, your behavior does not comply with courtroom standards. However, considering nearly 40 years of service to the investigative department, I’ll just warn you this time; don’t let it happen again!"

Judge Liu also chimed in on time, issuing a warning to Dr. Cao in the witness stand.

"Ah, this..." Now, Dr. Cao dared not answer, even lowering his head in shame.

Being publicly exposed and face-slapped like this was utterly humiliating.

My reputation, Old Cao’s, completely ruined today.

"Old Cao, I want to ask you: you retired at the age of 63, didn’t you?"

"Yes... yes."

Now that Dr. Cao was completely under Zhang Wei’s control, he naturally did not dare not answer.

"I remember, due to the shortage of technical talent in the forensic office, the maximum retirement age is set at 65, correct?"

"Yes."

"Seeing that you’re still quite robust, why did you retire 2 years earlier?"

"This..."

Dr. Cao looked at Yang Chunyuan, again, somewhat embarrassedly, lowered his head.

"Old Cao, I’m asking you a question, please answer my question."

"It’s because Xiao Yang felt I was a bit negligent at work, so she asked me to retire early,"

"Oh, it was my client who requested you retire early, huh? Then, I’d like to ask, when you two discussed this, were both parties amicable?"

Dr. Cao’s face turned green. At that time, they were both nearly at each other’s throats.

Anyway, I, Cao, believed I could still continue as a forensic expert, yet she, Yang Chunyuan, came up with all sorts of reasons to fire me.

Under such circumstances, he really couldn’t think of any conditions in which the two of them could sit down and discuss amicably.

"Perhaps, at that time, the words spoken were somewhat heated..."

"So, you’re saying you actually still harbor resentment towards my client, aren’t you? You hate her for taking your position as head, for stealing your limelight, and even for forcing you into early retirement, in other words, for firing you, for kicking you out of the First Forensic Office?"

"This..."

"Old Cao, I’m asking you a question, and you should answer my question. Don’t just look at me with that expression; how am I supposed to know what that expression means?"

Judge Liu also looked over with a gaze full of warning, staring intently at Dr. Cao.

Now, Dr. Cao was out of options.

"I...I admit that I was indeed a bit dissatisfied. Why should Xiao Yang become the head? My qualifications are higher, my experience is richer, and I even have management experience as a director. I..."

"So, what you’re saying is, your testimony today, after saying so much, was actually made under personal grudges against my client, right?"

Zhang Wei was asking, but he had already made it clear to the jury.

This old geezer’s testimony is not credible because he’s always been jealous of my client. Do you hear me, jury members?

Naturally, the jury got the implication.

Lucky for you, we believed in you, and to think you were actually trying to use us!

"Old Cao, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but it’s just a simple fact. Forensic Yang, my client, was once your apprentice, yet she later took over as your superior, becoming the head of the office before you, and in your heart, you believe that position belongs to you."

"Not to mention, in the few years before you were about to retire, she also engaged in some unpleasant discussions with you. Now, you have to testify against her in court. I find it hard to believe that your testimony is without any personal vendetta, right?"

Zhang Wei spread his hands with a conflicted expression, as if to say, "I want to believe you, but reality won’t allow it."

Of course, he was pretending.

But the jury was serious.

We were really about to believe you, but with all that the lawyer said, how can we make ourselves believe now?

"I, I..."

Dr. Cao stopped talking because he couldn’t say anything.

"Old Cao, you should feel lucky we’re not pursuing your issue,"

Zhang Wei said quite magnanimously to Dr. Cao and then nodded toward Judge Liu.

"As for this witness, our side has no further questions!"

His cross-examination ended.

Overall, the effect was quite good.

Dr. Cao’s accusations against Yang Chunyuan were all refuted after Zhang Wei lifted the veil of Dr. Cao’s shame.

Furthermore, he proved that Dr. Cao’s testimony in court today was driven by a personal grudge.

Under such circumstances, naturally, the testimony is not credible.

This point was obviously clear to the jury, as well as to the audience in the witness seats.

So the gale that had been fiercely blowing towards the defense’s benches now vanished into thin air, and the atmosphere in the courtroom began to soften again.

"Prosecutor?" Seeing the courtroom fall silent, Judge Liu quickly called out.

Upon this, Zheng Fenyong slowly stood up and announced:

"Judge Liu, the next witness our side wishes to call is a bit special. Due to his previous untraceable whereabouts, he wasn’t listed on the witness list!"

"Judge Liu, our side objects. Since Prosecutor Zheng is a senior prosecutor from the Southern District General Procuratorate, he should understand the significance of the public witness list!"

Seeing Zheng Fenyong make such a request, Zhang Wei naturally opposed it.

You’re starting now, huh? Thinking of playing dirty tricks?

Zheng Fenyong also looked towards Zhang Wei.

Indeed, that’s exactly what I plan to do.

And we, seasoned people of the courtroom, all understand one thing.

The public witness list is nothing more than a piece of paper.

"Judge Liu, the prosecution requests a sidebar!"

"The court grants it!"

Zheng Fenyong and Zhang Wei approached the bench.

"Prosecutor Zheng, who is this witness you wish to call, and why couldn’t he be summoned earlier?"

"The witness our side wishes to call is this person, his name is..."

"Ah, this..."

Upon hearing the name stated by Prosecutor Zheng, Judge Liu was shocked, while his gaze involuntarily flickered towards a certain direction.

"Judge Liu, our side strongly objects!"

Zhang Wei, of course, was not going to agree. If the prosecution was allowed to summon this witness, wouldn’t that turn everything upside down? Wasn’t this asking for trouble?

"Judge Liu, it just so happens that this person is also present today, and considering the relationship between the other party and the defendant, I believe summoning him to testify in court isn’t inappropriate, right?"

"This..."

Judge Liu pondered carefully and it seemed indeed to be the case.

He gave Zhang Wei a meaningful glance, then nodded towards Zheng Fenyong.

Clearly, he had agreed.

Zhang Wei, helplessly, could only shake his head and sigh before returning to the defense bench.

Because he was aware that sometimes some things are inevitable.

"Zhang Wei, what are you whispering about up there?"

Yang Chunyuan was anxious, but it was Mo Yuzhu who couldn’t help asking first.

"The prosecution wants to summon a witness whose identity is somewhat problematic."

"How problematic?" Mo Yuzhu asked curiously.

"Your dear father!" Zhang Wei said bitterly, revealing the identity of the witness.

For a moment, Mo Yuzhu’s mouth hung open, unable to close.

"The prosecution requests to summon Councilor Mo Juren to testify in court!"

Just then, Zheng Fenyong finally stood up to announce, revealing the name of the witness.

All eyes in the courtroom immediately turned towards the center of the spectator seats.

Mo Juren himself was confused.

What’s going on?

I was here today just to support my wife—how did I suddenly become a witness for the prosecution?

And, if you wanted to summon me, why didn’t you send me a subpoena in advance?

This way, without any preparation, it’s very awkward!

"Councilor Mo, stop dallying and please come sit here!"

In the courtroom, Zheng Fenyong was already beckoning to Mo Juren.

Mo Juren’s lips twitched, and he glanced at Zhang Wei, but the latter could only offer an awkward smile.

Zhang Wei had wanted Mo Juren to come to the courtroom to support his wife, but Zheng Fenyong had gone a step further by summoning Mo Juren to the witness stand.

"Councilor Mo, please take a seat!"

With Zheng Fenyong’s summoning, Mo Juren reluctantly took his seat on the witness stand.

"Having the opportunity to invite a Councilor from Dongfang Capital to testify today is also an honor for me," Zheng Fenyong remarked, voicing his sentiment.

But the jury and those in the spectator seats were just curiously looking at Mo Juren.

They all wanted to closely observe the demeanor of this Councilor.

But upon closer inspection, they found him to be very ordinary, lacking any air of a high-ranking official.

"Councilor Mo, please tell us about your relationship with the defendant, Yang Chunyuan," Zheng Fenyong said.

"She and I are lawfully married, and we’ve been married for almost 25 years!"

"Oh, you two are actually married?"

Zheng Fenyong showed a surprised expression, "But where are your wedding rings then? Why aren’t you wearing them?"

"This..."

Mo Juren and Yang Chunyuan both instinctively glanced at their left ring fingers, and indeed, neither of them wore wedding rings.

"Councilor Mo, I’d like to ask you, is your relationship with the defendant Yang Chunyuan good?"

"Uh..."

This was yet another embarrassing question.

Although they were married in name, each had their own responsibilities, and the two of them hardly saw each other more than a handful of times each year.

Was this relationship good?

Probably nine out of ten people would shake their heads.

"Even after we married, we have appropriately maintained a sense of distance from each other!"

This was Mo Juren’s response.

It must be said, worthy of a Councilor indeed.

High!

That answer was indeed very clever!