198: Chapter 199 Death penalty, to be carried out immediately!

The courtroom of the Jiangcheng Intermediate Court was packed once again, even more crowded than during Li Yong's previous trial.

In the gallery, there were not only media reporters and legal professionals but also citizens who had come of their own accord. Some held signs saying "Justice for Divine Doctor Li," while others wore white paper flowers on their chests. The air was filled with a solemn and heavy atmosphere.

Outside the court, hundreds of people gathered behind the police line, holding up their phones to livestream as they waited for the final judgment of Wang Tianhua.

At exactly nine o'clock in the morning, the gavel fell with a thud. The Presiding Judge's voice spread throughout the hall via the microphone, carrying an unquestionable authority: "Court is now in session! Bring the defendant, Wang Tianhua, to the stand."

Bailiffs led Wang Tianhua into the courtroom. He wore a grey prison uniform, his hair was whiter than when he was arrested, and his once-straight back had slumped. His hollow eyes swept across the room, and when they landed on Zhang Fan in the first row of the gallery, his body couldn't help but shrink back—there was no anger in that gaze, only fear that reached his very marrow.

"Defendant Wang Tianhua, do you admit that in month X of 2024, you instigated your son, Wang Haoyu, to drive a motor vehicle and intentionally strike Li Yong, resulting in Li Yong's death?" the Presiding Judge asked first, his tone solemn.

Wang Tianhua's lips trembled. After a few seconds of silence, he finally nodded, his voice hoarse: "I admit it... but I was forced by the Tianming Group! They sent me instructions, saying that as long as I made Li Yong disappear, they could guarantee Wang Haoyu's passage abroad... I didn't mean to kill Li Yong, it's the Tianming Group's fault!"

As if grasping at a final straw, he suddenly became agitated and shouted at the bench: "Presiding Judge! I am willing to expose the crimes of the Tianming Group! They are a transnational criminal organization that manipulates the pharmaceutical market and wanted to steal Li Yong's anti-cancer formula! I know their strongholds in Jiangcheng and their capital flows. I can testify! Please give me a chance to reduce my sentence!"

A wave of discussion instantly broke out in the gallery. Reporters raised their cameras and aimed them at Wang Tianhua—this news was too explosive. The name of the Tianming Group had finally moved from "behind the scenes" to the "front stage."

Zhang Fan sat in the gallery, lightly tapping his knee with his finger. He watched Wang Tianhua with a calm gaze, showing no surprise—he had long known that Wang Tianhua would try to use "exposing Tianming" to trade for a reduced sentence, but that was not enough to offset the crimes he had committed.

"Defendant Wang Tianhua, the court will hand over the information regarding the 'Tianming Group' to the relevant departments for investigation, but this cannot be a reason for your sentence to be reduced." The Presiding Judge interrupted him and signaled the prosecution to present their evidence. "Prosecution, please submit the evidence related to the defendant's crimes."

The prosecutor stood up and handed over a thick evidence bag. An assistant projected the evidence onto the large screen one by one: "The first piece of evidence is a recording of a phone call between Wang Tianhua and Wang Haoyu, confirming that he explicitly instigated Wang Haoyu to 'drive the car and kill Li Yong'; the second piece of evidence is the financial records of the Tianhua Group, confirming that Wang Tianhua is suspected of financial fraud and money laundering involving an amount as high as 320 million yuan; the third piece of evidence is the counterfeit drug production records of Tianhua Pharmaceutical, confirming that the 'anti-cancer drugs' they produced contained prohibited ingredients, causing 12 patients' conditions to worsen; the fourth piece of evidence is the testimony of witnesses Xiaoya and Zhang Cheng, confirming that Wang Tianhua used threats and inducements to make others commit perjury and frame Li Yong..."

Every piece of evidence was like a heavy hammer smashing against Wang Tianhua's psychological defenses. Looking at the transcript of the call on the screen, seeing his own ruthless tone when instigating Wang Haoyu, and seeing the diagnostic reports of the patients harmed by the fake drugs, he finally couldn't hold on any longer. He slumped in the defendant's seat, tears and snot streaming down as he murmured, "I was wrong... I was really wrong..."

"Defendant Wang Tianhua, do you have anything else to say in your defense?" the Presiding Judge asked.

Wang Tianhua shook his head, his voice as weak as a mosquito's hum: "No... I plead guilty..."

The Presiding Judge whispered with the other judges for a few minutes before picking up the verdict. He cleared his throat, and his voice was so solemn that the entire courtroom instantly fell silent: "After trial, this court has found that the defendant, Wang Tianhua, committed the crime of instigating intentional homicide with malicious circumstances, resulting in one death; committed the crime of financial fraud involving an exceptionally large amount; committed the crime of money laundering with serious circumstances; and committed the crime of producing and selling counterfeit drugs, causing serious consequences... For these multiple crimes, in accordance with Articles 29, 192, 191, and 141 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, the judgment is as follows: The defendant, Wang Tianhua, is sentenced to life imprisonment, deprived of political rights for life, and all personal property shall be confiscated!"

"Life imprisonment!"

Those words were like a clap of thunder exploding in the courtroom! The people in the gallery instantly burst into cheers. Some excitedly waved signs saying "Rest in Peace, Divine Doctor Li," while others wiped away tears and said, "There's finally a result! Doctor Li can rest in peace now!" The livestream comments were filled with remarks like "Long live justice" and "He got what he deserved." The topic #Wang Tianhua Life Imprisonment# instantly shot to the top of the trending searches, with real-time discussions exceeding 200 million.

Wang Tianhua slumped in his seat. After hearing the verdict, he actually calmed down—he knew that being able to keep his life was already a stroke of luck. As the bailiffs came forward to take him away, he suddenly turned to look at Zhang Fan and said hoarsely, "Zhang Fan... the Tianming Group won't let you go... they still have many chess pieces..."

Zhang Fan did not respond, only watching as he was led out of the courtroom. He had known about Wang Tianhua's warning for a long time. This trial was not just about avenging Li Yong; it was about tearing a hole in the Tianming Group. Next, it was time to settle scores with the accomplices who had helped the tyrant.

The Presiding Judge did not declare the court adjourned but picked up another verdict and continued: "Regarding the related person in this case, Wang Haoyu (deceased), after an in-absentia trial, this court has found that he intentionally drove a motor vehicle to strike Li Yong, resulting in Li Yong's death and causing damage to public property. His actions constitute the crime of intentional homicide with extremely malicious circumstances. In accordance with Article 232 of the Huaxia Criminal Law, the judgment is as follows: The defendant, Wang Haoyu, is guilty of intentional homicide and is sentenced to death, deprived of political rights for life."

He paused and added: "Furthermore, as approved by the Supreme People's Court, after being treated for serious injuries from the car accident, Wang Haoyu's identity was verified at Jiangcheng First Prison early this morning, and the execution by firing squad was carried out according to law."

The courtroom fell into silence again, followed by a wave of heavy sighs. Wang Haoyu's death was what he deserved, yet it was also regrettable. If not for Wang Tianhua's instigation and the Wang family's spoiling, he might not have reached this point. But more people felt relieved for Li Yong—the murderer had received his due punishment, and this kind old doctor of Chinese medicine could finally rest in peace.

After the trial ended, Zhang Fan walked out of the court. The sunlight fell on him but didn't bring much warmth. Li Yong's nephew, Li Jianjun, walked over and gripped his hand, his eyes red: "President Zhang, thank you... my uncle's grudge has finally been avenged."

Zhang Fan patted his shoulder and said in a gentle voice, "This is what I should do. I've already arranged Uncle Li's funeral. It will be grand, so everyone in Jiangcheng knows he was a hero who saved lives. Additionally, I've handed Uncle Li's anti-cancer formula to the R&D team. Clinical trials will begin soon. When it hits the market in the future, it will be named after 'Li Yong' so his name will forever remain in the cause of saving lives."

Li Jianjun nodded vigorously, unable to stop his tears from falling: "Good... good... if my uncle knows from beyond the grave, he will surely be very happy."

The surrounding citizens saw Zhang Fan and crowded around. Some handed him bottled water, some said "Thank you for your hard work, President Zhang," and others asked, "Will you investigate the people who worked for the Wang family next?" The "accomplices" they spoke of were the former Tianming lawyer Chen Mo, the perjurer Xiaoya, Zhang Cheng whose license had been revoked, and the core executives of the Tianhua Group.

Zhang Fan looked at the gathered crowd, his gaze gradually becoming firm: "Rest assured, everyone. We will not let anyone who participated in framing Uncle Li or helped the Wang family do evil go free. The law will not wrong a good person, nor will it let a bad person escape."

He turned toward his car, and Liu Ruyan quickly followed, handing him a file: "Boss, Chen Mo disappeared after Wang Tianhua's arrest. The Technology Department tracked him and found he has already left the country for Southeast Asia. Xiaoya and Zhang Cheng have been placed under compulsory measures by the police for suspected perjury and will stand trial soon. The core executives of the Tianhua Group have also been placed on the investigation list, and all assets under their names have been frozen."

Zhang Fan took the file, flipped through a few pages, and his gaze landed on the record of "Chen Mo leaving the country." His eyes turned cold. "Southeast Asia? The Tianming Group's stronghold should be there. Notify Interpol to assist in tracking Chen Mo's whereabouts. Also, have the Technology Department continue monitoring the Tianming Group's capital flows. They won't give up just because Wang Tianhua and Wang Haoyu have fallen; they will definitely send new people."

"Understood!" Liu Ruyan nodded in response.

The car slowly drove away from the court. Outside the window, people were still holding signs saying "Rest in Peace, Divine Doctor Li." Sunlight filtered through the car window onto the file in Zhang Fan's hand. He knew that the judgment of Wang Tianhua and Wang Haoyu was only one milestone in his revenge. Those accomplices who aided the tyrant, the hidden chess pieces of the Tianming Group, and even tougher challenges were all waiting for him.