Chapter 234

"This is insane, truly insane!"

"What's gotten into Fang Lichang? Wasn't the verdict for this case already decided? Why did he suddenly jump up and accuse Han Meng of a whole list of new crimes?"

"He's been a prosecutor for eight years, and while he hasn't been completely flawless, this time is just too outrageous. He's clearly trying to go against Commander Gu Yuan. Has he lost his mind?!"

"Did you feel the aura Commander Gu Yuan was giving off just now? I almost thought I was going to be crushed on the stand..."

"Commander Gu Yuan always acts calmly and discreetly. It seems he's truly enraged this time."

"But then again, I didn't expect the defense lawyer to suddenly turncoat either. Didn't they say there was a letter from Deputy Chief Tan Xin? Why didn't he present it?"

"Can't you see what's happening? Someone is clearly trying to sabotage the court from behind the scenes... No, they're trying to undermine the entire law enforcement system. It's utterly disgusting."

The jury and a group of officers emerged from the back door of the courtroom, eagerly discussing everything that had just transpired. As they rounded the corner, an old man in a black trench coat stood silently before them. The moment they saw him, everyone immediately fell silent, their gazes darting away.

Gu Yuan calmly swept his gaze over them. "Where is Fang Lichang?"

"We don't know... He disappeared as soon as the court recessed," the group said, exchanging bewildered glances. "He probably ran off and hid because he was too afraid of you... The officers who supported him also vanished; we didn't see them at all."

Gu Yuan sneered, "He had the nerve to betray me, but not the courage to face me. I thought Fang Lichang had suddenly changed his nature, but it seems I overestimated him."

"Commander, what do we do now?"

"Yes, the accusations they threw are utterly disgusting. Once the media buzz starts, the pressure for the trial in two days will be even greater... Perhaps we could send someone to silence those reporters beforehand and..." An officer extended his hands, making a gesture of tying someone up.

"We are officers of the law, not thugs," Gu Yuan said gravely. "If we actually did something like that and they caught us, the entire court would be disgraced."

"Then... what other options do we have?"

A faint glimmer flickered in Gu Yuan's old eyes, and after a moment, he spoke slowly: "You all carry on with your duties; don't worry about anything else. I'd like to see what other tricks they have up their sleeves."

Outside the courtroom.

"Are all the photos taken?" the squinting man asked in a low voice, addressing the group of reporters gathered outside the main gate.

"Yes, they are," everyone nodded.

Zhuo Shuqing stood at the very back of the group, awkwardly wanting to say something but hesitating.

"This is the news draft template for the next two days," the squinting man continued. "Write the content according to this; you can elaborate a bit, but the core message must not change. You must emphasize that Han Meng is a member of the Twilight Society and deliberately opened the city gates to spread the plague. Understand?"

"Understood."

"You can disperse now. Stay at the Merry Hotel for the next two days; your rooms are already booked. Don't wander off." The squinting man waved his hand, and the reporters dispersed.

Zhuo Shuqing furtively glanced around, then clutching his camera, he quickly darted into a narrow alley, his expression hurried as if he were being chased. He ducked through six or seven alleys, occasionally glancing back. Only after confirming he was alone did he breathe a sigh of relief.

"Damn it, why did I have to run into that guy right outside the courthouse?" Zhuo Shuqing wiped the sweat from his forehead, speaking with a trace of lingering fear. "Good thing I left quickly, I almost got caught again..."

He calmed his nerves, about to head home directly, when he looked up and saw a brown coat fluttering in the cold wind at the end of the alley. His foot, already in motion, froze instantly! His eyes widened, as if he'd seen a ghost. "You... you... you..."

The next moment, his vision blurred as a powerful hand clamped around his throat, pinning him against the wall like a chick, with a dull thud!

"I believe I told you," Chen Ling said, his eyes narrowed slightly, an intensely cold killing intent spreading through the biting wind. "If you dare to have any dishonest thoughts this time... I will kill you. Do you think I'm just joking with you?"

Veins bulged on the back of Chen Ling's hand, as if he meant to crush Zhuo Shuqing's neck. Under the wolf-like gaze, Zhuo Shuqing trembled uncontrollably.

"I-I-I... I didn't do anything!!" Zhuo Shuqing said, his face pale. "They did ask me to make fake news... but this time, I really didn't intend to! I didn't take a single photo with my camera, and I didn't write a single word in my notebook... I listened to your advice, truly!! You can't kill me!"

A hint of surprise flickered in Chen Ling's eyes at this. He snatched the camera from around Zhuo Shuqing's neck and began to check the film. The film indeed showed no signs of use, and Zhuo Shuqing's notebook was completely blank... It seemed Zhuo Shuqing had genuinely been terrified by Chen Ling this time. Even though he had been brought to the scene, he hadn't dared to create fake news; instead, he had sat there quietly like a quail from beginning to end.

Chen Ling stared at Zhuo Shuqing for a long time, then his right hand released his neck. Zhuo Shuqing immediately stumbled and collapsed to the ground, coughing violently.

"Very good, you've saved your life," Chen Ling said slowly.

Zhuo Shuqing looked at Chen Ling with terror; he had truly felt the killing intent emanating from Chen Ling just now... If he had actually recorded anything, this guy probably would have killed him!

Zhuo Shuqing, having narrowly escaped death, asked tremblingly, "Then, can I go home now?"

"Not yet." Chen Ling casually tore a page from the notebook and tossed it in front of Zhuo Shuqing. "Write down the names of the other reporters who were bribed like you and attended the court hearing, including their names and the media outlets they work for."

Zhuo Shuqing was startled for a moment and cautiously asked, "What... what are you planning to do?"

"That's none of your concern. What? You're not going to write it?"

"I'll write it! I'll write it!"

Zhuo Shuqing immediately picked up the pen and began to write, exposing all his "accomplices" from that day. At the same time, Chen Ling spoke again: "Who hired you all?"

"It was Fang Lichang, the prosecutor from the court."

"Did he tell you how he would contact you?"

"No, he didn't... He just told us to publish the news, then stay at the Merry Hotel and not wander off, saying there would be a banquet or something... He was probably afraid the law enforcement officers would retaliate against us," Zhuo Shuqing quickly added, "But I'm not planning to get involved in this anymore. I just want to go home..."

Merry Hotel... Chen Ling noted the address, then took back Zhuo Shuqing's list and quickly scanned it.

"You may go," Chen Ling said calmly.

Upon hearing those three words, Zhuo Shuqing felt as if he had been granted a pardon and immediately turned to flee. Halfway through, he seemed to remember something, quietly looked back, grabbed his trendy crossbody bag and camera from the ground, tucked them into his arms, and then ran off frantically.

Chen Ling folded the list and put it into his pocket. He glanced back towards the court, his gaze icy cold. "This framing scheme isn't bad... Since you want to play a game, I'll play it to the end with you."

Chen Ling withdrew his gaze, put his hands into his pockets, and his brown overcoat gradually disappeared into the cold wind at the end of the alley.