Me! A disgraced celebrity! Starting by seeking justice for impoverished students.

With the order to adjourn, the public gallery began to leave.

Jiang Chen and Zhou Zhenhai walked towards the lounge.

As for Gao Jianming and the other defendants, they were escorted into a temporary detention room under the protection of bailiffs.

The three judges, dressed in robes, rose from their seats and moved into the deliberation room at the back of the courtroom.

In the small deliberation room, thick case files were spread out on the long table.

Five lists of evidence, along with court transcripts, were laid out in a row.

There were no outsiders listening in, and no live cameras broadcasting the proceedings; this was the most important decision-making site for the collegial panel.

The opinions of the three judges determined the final outcome of the case.

Judge Li Song spoke first.

He tapped the case file with his fingertip and said firmly, "Let me first give you my opinion."

"The facts of this case are clear, and the chain of evidence is complete and closed."

"Physical evidence, documentary evidence, witness testimonies, expert opinions, and audio-visual materials corroborate each other. The four accomplices pleaded guilty in court and identified the mastermind. Gao Jianming's defense of 'not knowing and failing in his management' is completely untenable."

"The characterization of indirect intentional homicide is correct. He knew that the drug was harmful and that abandoning it in the wild would lead to death, yet he continued to allow the result to occur twelve times over three years, demonstrating a deep degree of subjective malice."

"In addition...the charge of fraud is also established. Under the guise of elderly care, they set up unfair terms and conditions, and then used the death of a person to embezzle the remaining funds. Their intention to illegally possess the funds was clear."

"Corporate crimes can also be prosecuted, as the entire process was carried out in the name of the nursing home and the profits went to the organization."

Judge Zhao Wenbin, who was standing next to him, nodded and continued, "I agree with Li Song's opinion."

"This case has had a terrible social impact. Under the guise of high-end elderly care, they specifically target seriously ill elderly people, profiting from human lives and crossing ethical boundaries."

"Now the whole internet is watching. If the sentence is too lenient, we won't be able to explain it to the public, and it won't have a deterrent effect."

"The main culprit, Gao Jianming, refused to plead guilty throughout the entire process, showed no remorse, and even attempted to collude with others to shift blame. He should be punished more severely."

"Of the remaining four accomplices, Wang Hao was a core member of the management team and played a significant role, but he showed a good attitude in admitting his guilt."

"The two caregivers and the driver are low-level enforcers with relatively small roles, and they all pleaded guilty and accepted punishment. Their sentences can be determined according to their respective circumstances."

Presiding Judge Zhou Mingyuan sat in the main seat and listened quietly to the opinions of the two men.

He nodded, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips, his expression calm.

"You two agree with me."

"This case is not an ordinary case of negligence. It is a series of organized, premeditated, and three-year-long profiteering crimes involving twelve lives and more than three million yuan in illicit funds. The evidence is conclusive, and there is no dispute that the charges have been established."

"Gao Jianming, as the mastermind, refused to plead guilty and shirked responsibility. There were no mitigating circumstances, and he should be sentenced severely according to law."

"The remaining four individuals will be sentenced according to their respective circumstances, including their status as criminals, their attitudes toward admitting guilt, and their expressions of remorse, within the legally prescribed range."

"We will gather a unified opinion, draft a judgment, and pronounce the verdict as soon as possible!"

In just a few words, the three judges reached a complete consensus.

The three had no disagreements or disputes.

Such situations are rare.

This is just... in cases like this where the evidence is overwhelming, the outcome was already predetermined.

……

On the other side, in the lounge.

Zhou Zhenhai sat in the chair with his fists clenched, his knuckles turning white.

Although the trial has ended, he still feels a burning anger in his chest.

"Do you think Gao Jianming is sick?"

"Even now, with all the evidence shoved in their face, they're still being stubborn! They still claim ignorance and negligence—how can they be so shameless!"

Zhou Zhenhai was furious when he recalled Gao Jianming's aggrieved and self-righteous demeanor during the trial, where he claimed it was all his subordinates' fault.

This man never uttered a single truth or showed the slightest remorse when his own father nearly died in the wilderness.

Jiang Chen poured him a glass of warm water and handed it to him, speaking calmly and composedly.

"It's okay, don't worry."

"His stubbornness is useless. Courts judge cases based on evidence, not on who can talk the most."

"The five sets of evidence are closely linked, and the four co-defendants identified him in court. The financial approvals and purchase signatures were all in his name. No matter how much he denies it, he cannot overturn the facts."

"Refusing to plead guilty will only be more detrimental to him. Without remorse or confession, he will only be punished more severely."

Zhou Zhenhai took the water glass, took a big gulp, let out a long sigh, and his tense shoulders slowly relaxed.

"Too……"

"The evidence is all there; no matter how stubborn he is, he can't change anything!"

"Attorney Jiang, I'm relieved to hear that."

"This time, we can finally get justice for my father and those other elderly victims!"

He nodded, a hint of relief finally appearing in his eyes.

After waiting for so long, we've been waiting for the final verdict!

……

A cold iron fence separated the inside from the outside, and the five defendants were crammed onto a long bench.

They had just come from the courtroom, and each of them was seething with anger.

Without the rules of the courtroom, once the conversation started, things instantly descended into chaos.

Gao Jianming was the first to lose his temper. He turned his head and glared fiercely at Wang Hao beside him, growling in a low voice, "Wang Hao, you're something else, trying to pin everything on me in court? I've always treated you well, haven't I?"

Wang Hao laughed upon hearing this, a hint of despair in his voice: "President Gao, you still say that now?"

"The rules for administering medication, the procedures for driving at night, the plan to embezzle the remaining payment—weren't all of these decisions made by you?"

"Now that something's happened, you want us to take the blame for you?"

"I've already confessed, and I've told the truth. I can't just stay here and suffer with you, can I?"

"You..." Gao Jianming was choked and his face turned ashen.

In the corner, Lü Qian, her eyes red, muttered softly, "At first, Supervisor Wang told us it was nothing, that it was all arranged by the hospital, and that the higher-ups would take responsibility if anything went wrong... Now look what's happened, everyone's going to jail."

Zhang Ting nodded in agreement, looking aggrieved.

The driver, Liu Jun, chimed in gruffly, "Exactly."

"Every time I go out on a trip, I get two thousand yuan as a service fee, but the majority of it goes to the company."

"Now the main culprit is to be punished severely, and we're going to suffer because of it? That's not fair."

"Bullshit!" Gao Jianming was completely enraged.

"We gave you all the money! Now that something's happened, are you trying to pin it all on me?"

"If you hadn't slipped up, how could you have been investigated to this point!"

"If you hadn't insisted on being greedy for that little bit of the final payment and hadn't dumped people in the middle of nowhere, would this have caused such a big fuss?" Wang Hao retorted, not to be outdone.

The group of people started talking amongst themselves, blaming each other and shifting the blame.

They all wanted to shift their own blame and make others take more responsibility.

"What's all the noise about! Be quiet!"

The bailiffs outside banged heavily on the iron bars and shouted to stop them.

The detention room fell silent instantly. The men turned their heads away, their faces grim, and refused to look at each other again.

Now that things have come to this, no one can escape responsibility, and no one can absolve themselves of all blame!