Chapter Nine: Turning the Tide

“What trump card?” Yin Nian asked.

“That strand of hair,” Yan Ming replied.

“Has the forensic result come out?”

“No. But right now, the most important thing is to stabilize the situation. Only by not losing can we hope to win.”

Yin Nian nodded in silent agreement. Yan Ming took a deep breath, stood up, and walked to the bench. “I request to submit new physical evidence.”

The presiding judge was somewhat surprised. “New evidence? I thought you had none.”

Yan Ming placed several transparent bags on the bench. “These pieces of evidence were only discovered yesterday and haven’t been submitted yet. But they are crucial to the case itself, so I decided to bring them forward at the last minute.”

The judge nodded and began to examine the new items: three transparent plastic bags, each containing a crumpled fragment of newspaper, five photographs, and a document.

As the judge looked them over, Yan Ming explained, “The newspaper fragment was given to Yin Nian when she visited the hospital to see Old Lady Yang, who briefly regained consciousness and pressed it into Yin Nian’s hand. It bears an advertisement for Pingkang Life Insurance, which Old Lady Yang marked with water stains. The document is a record of the insurance Old Lady Yang purchased from Pingkang Life five years ago. I’ve verified it—she did buy the insurance, and it expired two months later. The five photographs were taken yesterday at the Pingwu Mountain accident site. There, I found what appeared to be a trap buried on the slope, and in the trap, I discovered a long, slightly reddish strand of hair resembling Yang Yongfang’s.”

“Objection!” Yu Weiran called out loudly.

“Overruled!” the judge responded immediately.

Yu Weiran’s two assistants whispered to each other, while Yang Yongfang and Yang Yonggui began to discuss the matter.

“Order!” the judge struck the gavel and looked at Yan Ming. “Continue.”

“We have reason to suspect the three Yang siblings of conspiring to murder their mother for insurance money. Before Yin Nian’s car encountered Old Lady Yang, she was already gravely injured—not from being hit by a car, but from tumbling down the mountain slope.” Yan Ming walked to the bench, raised the photo showing the suspected trap, and displayed it to everyone. “This is where the trap was laid. They set it up in advance and lured Old Lady Yang there under the pretense of picking medicinal herbs, causing her to fall down the slope. They expected her to die from the fall, but unexpectedly, she was rescued by Yin Nian. When their insurance scam failed, they turned to extortion. That’s their scheme!”

“Objection!” Yu Weiran’s face was grave. “The defense counsel is basing his arguments on pure conjecture.”

“Do you have any evidence to support your claim?” the judge asked Yan Ming.

“I found a strand of hair in the trap and have already notified the police. They are conducting a forensic analysis, though the result is not yet available,” Yan Ming said, looking at the three Yang siblings. “I believe the police have already questioned them.”

“Is that so?” the judge asked the siblings.

They remained silent, as did Yu Weiran.

“Is that so?” the judge raised his voice. “Please answer my question.”

Yu Weiran glanced at Yang Yongli, signaling him to speak.

Yang Yongli cleared his throat and said, “Last night, police officers did have us give statements. We all went and provided alibis, then went home. The police said someone had reported us for murdering our mother for insurance money. We firmly deny this and are preparing to sue the accuser for malicious slander and defamation. This has greatly damaged our reputation, and we will not tolerate it.”

After speaking, Yang Yongli looked at Yu Weiran.

Yu Weiran added, “Clearly, the defense is willing to fabricate evidence to win the case, attempting to confuse matters with unrelated incidents. I believe they are only harming themselves, and we will pursue their actions according to the law. Please judge carefully.”

The judge turned to Yan Ming. “Other than the strand of hair, do you have any other evidence?”

Yan Ming shook his head. “No. But that strand of hair is already quite telling.”

The judge examined the evidence on the bench, deep in thought.

Yu Weiran said, “These are entirely separate cases. The defense counsel is trying to cover up the truth by exploiting another incident. Please reject his evidence.”

Yan Ming replied, “Although they are separate cases, the connection between them is substantial—there’s a clear causal relationship!”

Yu Weiran stood up. “One is a civil dispute, the other a criminal case. Where’s the connection? Besides, your arguments are all inference and deduction, utterly lacking evidence. You are treating the court and the law with contempt!”

Yan Ming also stood, glaring at Yu Weiran. “If the three Yang siblings really did harm Old Lady Yang, then she was already severely injured when she fell down the slope, and the incident with Yin Nian’s car would be rendered moot. Isn’t that a connection?”

Yu Weiran and Yan Ming engaged in a fierce debate, each holding their ground, tensions mounting, neither willing to yield.

“Order! Order!” The judge struck the gavel twice, face stern. “Given the unusual circumstances, we must clarify some matters. The court will recess temporarily and resume in fifteen minutes!”

The judge, jurors, and the panel all left the courtroom to confer in the back.

Yan Ming returned to his seat, exchanging a silent nod with Yin Nian. They had anticipated this outcome, knowing that once they introduced this evidence, the situation would inevitably shift.

Yu Weiran’s group began a heated discussion. At first, they kept their voices low, but soon the volume rose. Yu Weiran looked angry, his complexion pale, Yang Yonggui argued fiercely, Yang Yongfang explained something, while Yang Yongli sat with arms folded, face dark, saying nothing.

Perhaps concerned about appearances, Yu Weiran gestured for everyone to stop talking.

Soon after, the judge and the panel returned, taking their seats.

The judge struck the gavel and announced the resumption of proceedings, sharing the results of their deliberation.

“We contacted the Ba County Police Station just now. We were informed that there is indeed a case under investigation involving the alleged murder of Old Lady Yang, with the suspects being Yang Yonggui, Yang Yongli, and Yang Yongfang. The police have obtained their statements. Although they provided alibis, the police have secured a strand of hair as evidence, which is currently undergoing forensic analysis.” The judge glanced at those present and continued, “Given the extraordinary circumstances, we have decided to postpone the trial for one week. The hearing will resume next Monday at ten in the morning.”

Yang Yonggui slammed the table, seemingly uttering a curse.

The judge immediately looked at him. “Is there a problem?”

Yang Yonggui shook his head, saying nothing.

“Does anyone else have a problem?” The judge scanned the room, stern-faced.

No one spoke. The courtroom was silent.

The judge struck the gavel forcefully, declaring the session adjourned.