"To seek a reduced sentence, one must have circumstances that merit consideration for reduction. For example, actively returning stolen goods, restoring what was illegally taken to the original owner, and striving to obtain their forgiveness."

"You should also actively cooperate with the procuratorate and the court's investigation, provide a full account of the specific details, and proactively plead guilty..."

Afterward, Zhang Wei brought up some circumstances that could significantly reduce the sentence.

However, after listening, Chen Ping couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. "I once tried to reach a private settlement with the other party, but they completely refused. I think... he even knows a bit about the law. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sued so resolutely."

"Knows the law?" Zhang Wei's expression shifted slightly as he asked subconsciously, "What's the other party's name?"

"Seems like it's Qin Mu. Yes, Qin Mu. That's the name on the subpoena."

Zhang Wei swallowed hard, his face full of surprise. At that moment, all he wanted to say was that Jin City was too small.

Noticing Zhang Wei's expression, Chen Ping couldn't help but ask, "What? Senior brother, you know him?"

"Of course I know him, as familiar as can be." Zhang Wei looked at Chen Ping oddly, with a bit of sympathy.

Chen Ping quickly said, "That's great then! Senior brother, can you talk to him and get him to drop the lawsuit? I'll repay him the lottery money and seek forgiveness."

Zhang Wei's mouth twitched. He said very seriously, "You might as well give up on that idea. I've been involved in several lawsuits with him where he was the plaintiff. Do you know the outcome for the defendants?" He then briefly recalled a few of the previous cases in front of Chen Ping. His tone was calm, but the content made Chen Ping's heart quake in fear. The most outrageous case... The other party was sentenced to twenty years!

"Damn!" Chen Ping was so frightened that he couldn't even hold his water glass steadily, uttering an expletive involuntarily.

"Based on my understanding of him, he certainly won't withdraw the lawsuit, and you can forget about forgiveness," Zhang Wei stated earnestly. Having experienced so many cases, he had never seen Qin Mu forgive anyone.

"Then... then..." Chen Ping clenched his teeth, suddenly struck by an idea. He quickly said, "I remember from my studies that there's a regulation for leniency. Isn't there reduced punishment for attempted crimes and accessory roles?"

Zhang Wei paused briefly. He looked deeply at Chen Ping and nodded. "Indeed, there is such a provision in sentencing."

Chen Ping, hearing this, immediately sighed in relief. "Then that's good! This whole thing was my brother-in-law's idea, and he was the one who cashed in the lottery ticket. The deleted surveillance footage can prove what I'm saying!" Things having come to this point, he could no longer care about other issues; first and foremost, he needed to throw his good-for-nothing brother-in-law under the bus.

However, Zhang Wei shook his head and soberly said, "In this case, as the owner of the lottery shop who falsely claimed the tickets were erroneous, you are the primary actor and principal executor. Even if your brother-in-law suggested it first, he'd be considered an instigator and accomplice at most. The principal offender is still you. I remember this point being covered in our classes, in the chapter on instigators, accomplices, and principal offenders." Zhang Wei briefly recalled, then continued, "Moreover, criminal law doesn't recognize any distinction like 'he completed the crime, you merely attempted it.' Among accomplices, if one completes the act, all are considered to have completed it. He cashed in the lottery prize money, so you must also bear the corresponding legal responsibility!"

These were basic legal principles taught in law school, he explained. Ordinary people might not be aware of them, but law students should have a decent grasp.

After hearing this, Chen Ping's face fell completely. Sitting on the couch, he couldn't speak a word for a long time.

...

「Nursing home.」

After the court accepted the case, Qin Mu spent each day, apart from his routine work, perusing books related to litigation. This task was more complex than before. The difficulty of defending his rights was also higher. Luckily, he had found a breakthrough point and handed over the evidence collection to the procuratorate. Next, all he needed to do was ensure that the opposing party faced appropriate punishment during the court proceedings. He wanted to fulfill the system's tasks as comprehensively as possible. Actually, he was quite curious about this rare reward mentioned by the system.

As time slowly passed.

「Three days had swiftly gone by.」

Around nine in the morning, Qin Mu arrived at the Jin City Court, heading to the First Civil Tribunal. The court had various different tribunals and adjudication teams; some adjudicated civil cases, others criminal cases. His case, still regarded as a civil dispute, was scheduled to be heard in the First Civil Tribunal.

And upon entering the tribunal, Qin Mu saw a group of familiar seniors in the spectator seats.

"Xiao Qin, you're not very proactive, are you? How did you end up arriving later than us?"

"I have to criticize your attitude, arriving so late for your own lawsuit?"

"Exactly! We entered as soon as the court doors opened. We almost thought you'd be absent today."

"Today's case sounds a bit thrilling..."

"..."

Zhang Qingyuan, Li Weiguo, and others sat in their seats with a spectator's demeanor. After seeing him, they couldn't resist teasing him.

Qin Mu: "..."

He had taken a day off from DingTalk just for the court session today and hadn't even gone to the nursing home. Little had he expected Zhang Qingyuan and the others to find their way to the court themselves! They had arrived even earlier than him and taken seats directly in the spectator area. And to think, this civil hearing wasn't scheduled until ten in the morning!

...

「Meanwhile.」

「Nursing home.」

「Vice Director's office.」

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