129: Chapter 129 The Weight of Justice

December in Jiangzhou, the cold wind was biting.

Inside the grand courtroom of the Jiangzhou City Intermediate People's Court, the heating was on full blast, yet Zhao Yang's palms were damp with excitement.

Beside him, Sun Hongwei sat without a word, his gaze fixed intently on the defendant's dock.

At nine o'clock sharp, the gavel struck.

"Bring in the defendants!"

Ji Hongwen was the first to be escorted in.

Only a few months had passed, but this once high-spirited Municipal Party Committee Secretary of Tongan was now completely gray-haired, his back hunched, and his eyes as hollow as stagnant water.

He wore a gray prison uniform and needed the bailiffs' support to walk.

The cloth shoes on his feet dragged across the floor, making a rustling sound.

Following him was Guo Mingkai.

His hair was combed meticulously, but his eyes were bloodshot, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

That once overbearing arrogance had been completely worn away.

When Zhou Zhiqiang was escorted in, a suppressed commotion rippled through the gallery.

Zhao Yang felt the body of Sun Hongwei beside him tense up.

He did not turn his head, but simply patted the back of Sun Hongwei's hand gently.

Then came Huang Shixun, Xu Biao... the defendants stood in a row.

The presiding judge began to read the verdict, the voice echoing through the courtroom.

"Defendant Ji Hongwen, as a state functionary, abused his position to misappropriate public funds and illegally accept property from others, involving an especially huge amount... For combined crimes, he is sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, deprived of political rights for life, and all personal property is confiscated."

Ji Hongwen's body swayed, and he gripped the railing of the dock.

He kept his head down the entire time, his shoulders heaving slightly.

"Defendant Guo Mingkai, for organizing and leading a criminal underworld organization, embezzling company property... For combined crimes, he is sentenced to death, to be executed immediately..."

Guo Mingkai raised his head abruptly, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something.

But upon meeting the presiding judge's stern gaze, he ultimately failed to utter a single syllable.

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted from the gallery.

"Good!"

"Well judged!"

The gavel struck again: "Order in the court!"

"Defendant Zhou Zhiqiang, for the crimes of rape by violence and deprivation of others' lives, is sentenced to death, to be executed immediately, and deprived of political rights for life."

At this moment, Zhao Yang felt Sun Hongwei beside him tremble violently.

He turned his head and saw Sun Hongwei gritting his teeth tightly, his eyes red.

"Defendant Xu Biao, for actively participating in a criminal underworld organization and intentional injury... For combined crimes, he is sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment and deprived of political rights for five years."

"Defendant Huang Shixun, for abusing his position to illegally accept property from others, involving a huge amount; and abuse of power... For combined crimes, he is sentenced to death, to be executed immediately."

Huang Shixun's face turned deathly pale, his knees went weak, and he could barely stand.

The verdict was read for a full two hours.

When the last defendant was escorted out, the courtroom fell into a deathly silence.

It was unclear who started the applause, but it grew louder and louder, surging like a tide.

Zhao Yang and Sun Hongwei walked out of the court with the crowd.

The sunlight at the entrance was blinding; Sun Hongwei stood on the steps and tilted his head back.

Letting the sunlight shine on his face.

...

That same afternoon, in Tongan, at the Public Security Bureau conference room, the city-wide public security work conference was being held.

Outside the window, the cold wind howled; inside, the atmosphere was passionate.

On the podium, Chief Luo Jinghui was reading the commendation decision.

"Comrades Xu Yiming, Jiang Nan, and He Ping, during the investigation of the June 11 Case, adhered to principles, preserved key evidence, and made significant contributions to the final resolution of the case. By the decision of the Municipal Bureau Party Committee, each is awarded a personal second-class merit!"

The three stood up and saluted, their police badges shining under the lights, and thunderous applause erupted below the stage.

After receiving the award, Jiang Nan looked at the second-class merit certificate in her hand, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.

The gold-plated badge shimmered under the lights, reflecting rays of golden light that shone on her beautiful face.

After the meeting ended, Jiang Nan walked out of the venue, took out her phone, and sent a text message to Zhao Yang:

"The commendation is over, second-class merit."

Soon, Zhao Yang replied:

"Congratulations, honey. I also have something to tell you; let's talk tomorrow."

Jiang Nan looked at the line of text, feeling a sense of inexplicable anticipation in her heart.

...

The next day, Ningzhou.

Sun Hongwei, who had arrived early, did not go to his parents-in-law's house first, but went straight to the Xishan Cemetery.

The cemetery in winter was exceptionally quiet, with pine and cypress trees standing tall in the cold wind.

Sun Hongwei walked up the stone steps one by one and finally stopped in front of a tombstone.

A black-and-white photograph was embedded in the tombstone; the woman in the photo was young and gentle, with a faint smile in her eyes and brows.

Below the photo were engraved the words: Grave of beloved wife Chen Xue.

Sun Hongwei stood there for a long time before slowly squatting down.

He took a piece of paper from his bag and placed it gently in front of the tombstone.

It was a copy of yesterday's court verdict.

"Xiaoxue," his voice was a bit hoarse, "it was sentenced yesterday. Zhou Zhiqiang, death, immediate execution."

The wind blew over the mountains, and the pine and cypress trees rustled, as if someone was responding gently.

He reached out and touched the cold tombstone; the Chen Xue in the photo was still smiling, smiling so quietly.

"176 days," he said, "I have been thinking about this day every day..."

His voice choked up, unable to continue.

After a long while, Sun Hongwei continued:

"I will take good care of Mom and Dad, don't you worry."

After saying this, he just squatted there for a long, long time.

In the afternoon, Sun Hongwei went to his parents-in-law's house.

The elderly couple lived in the staff quarters of Ningzhou University, in an old-style three-bedroom apartment, with walls of bookshelves packed with thread-bound books and various literary and historical classics.

His mother-in-law opened the door, and seeing Sun Hongwei, her eyes suddenly turned red:

"Hongwei, come in quickly, it's cold outside."

Sun Hongwei changed into slippers and walked into the living room.

His father-in-law, Chen Qihong, was sitting at the desk, holding a brush and writing.

Seeing Sun Hongwei, the old man put down the brush and took off his reading glasses.

"You're here?" His voice was steady, with no discernible emotion.

"Dad." Sun Hongwei walked over, "I was in Jiangzhou yesterday to attend the sentencing."

Chen Qihong nodded and pointed to the sofa: "Sit."

"I saw the TV news yesterday."

The old man's tone was calm, as if he were recounting a piece of history.

"I have studied Ming history for forty years and have seen too many unjust cases and too many powerful traitors in power. Seeing that verdict yesterday, I suddenly remembered a saying."

"Heaven's way is to repay; there is a principle that justice will prevail. When people's hearts are in accord, there is no grievance that a common man cannot avenge."

Sun Hongwei had tears in his eyes and choked out:

"Dad, I have remembered it. I will use this sentence to warn myself in the future."

The sound of his mother-in-law stir-frying came from the kitchen, and the fragrance of green onions drifted in.

Everything was so ordinary, yet so extraordinary.

Some pain will not disappear, but it can be slowly let go.

...

Meanwhile, in Jiangzhou.

Zhao Yang received a call from Gong Chengze; the voice on the phone was extremely serious:

"At two-thirty this afternoon, please attend the general meeting of all personnel of the Jianghan Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection on time. Do not be absent!"