Chapter 61: Victory and Sudden Attack

Lu Yao slowly stood up, her gaze calm as she looked toward the plaintiff’s representative, then at the plaintiffs seated in the audience. The corners of her lips lifted slightly as she spoke, each word clear: “Your Honor, we would like to submit the medical records of all plaintiffs, which were just approved for review, as evidence in this appeal.”

The judge, rather appreciative of Lu Yao’s confidence, replied, “Evidence accepted. Please proceed.”

The assistant handed out copies of all the medical records, giving one set each to the judge and to Jiang Xinhai.

Jiang Xinhai looked at the thick stack of medical files before him, with all his clients’ names listed, and could not help swallowing nervously.

He had thought Lu Yao was all show and no substance.

He had not expected this...

Lu Yao then produced another document and said, “From the plaintiffs’ medical records, it is evident that all their illnesses are hereditary diseases caused by consanguineous marriages. The law prohibits marriage between close relatives, specifically between direct relatives or collateral relatives within three generations.”

At these words, the plaintiffs’ faces filled with fear.

To them, marriages between close kin were entirely normal.

But the law strictly forbade such unions.

“Medically speaking, consanguineous marriage is one of the leading causes of congenital disabilities in children. Genetics shows that the probability of hereditary disease is much higher in offspring from such marriages than from marriages between unrelated people.” Lu Yao invited the plaintiffs’ lawyer and the judge to review the records, highlighting key points: “The attending physicians’ statements also confirm that the plaintiffs’ illnesses stem from hereditary conditions.”

Immediately after, Lu Yao presented certified data from environmental monitoring agencies showing that the wastewater and exhaust emissions met all required standards.

At this moment, the plaintiffs were seething, their gazes toward Lu Yao turning vicious.

“So, the plaintiffs’ claim that their illnesses and suffering were caused by emissions from Green Horizon Environmental is nothing but slander. We reserve the right to pursue action against those spreading these falsehoods.”

With that, Lu Yao offered Jiang Xinhai a triumphant smile.

Jiang Xinhai was completely unprepared for Lu Yao’s line of attack; he was caught utterly off guard.

In the final judgment, the judge declared that, as the plaintiffs had all married within prohibited degrees of kinship and were thus suffering from hereditary diseases, there was no direct connection to the emissions from Green Horizon Environmental. The initial judgment against Green Horizon was overturned, and the plaintiffs’ claims were dismissed.

Upon hearing the verdict, the plaintiffs erupted in fury, roaring accusations of injustice at the judge.

Lu Yao turned and exchanged a smile with Ye Yingtang’s assistant.

Jiang Xinhai saw their shared smile clearly, and it made his teeth itch with anger.

He strode up to Lu Yao, barely containing his rage. “I didn’t expect you had it in you.”

Lu Yao smiled serenely. “Attorney Jiang, if you have time to worry about me, perhaps you should worry more about whether you’ll qualify for this year’s promotion to senior partner.”

“You’d better watch your back. Those people are ruthless when there’s money involved,” Jiang Xinhai threatened, voice cold and menacing.

Lu Yao was unfazed as she gathered her things. Before leaving, she stopped and replied with a smile, “We live in a society ruled by law. The law will deal with those who resort to violence.”

Jiang Xinhai watched her proud, unhurried departure with resentment, his eyes cold as he looked over at one of the bearded plaintiffs, signaling with a gesture.

The bearded man nodded in reply and then quickly followed in Lu Yao’s direction.

Lu Yao reached the underground parking lot. She waited several minutes, but her assistant was nowhere to be seen.

She took out her phone, preparing to call Zhang Xiaoxin, when she saw on the screen’s reflection a man approaching her from behind, ready to attack. She swiftly dodged to the side, evading his assault.

With just one glance, she recognized him as one of the plaintiffs.

She immediately shouted, “Stop! If you dare attack me, you’ll be facing at least five years in prison!”

“Who cares how many years I get when I’m about to lose my life?”

“You wretched woman, because of you, the money we were about to get is gone. If you won’t let us live, I’ll make sure you die right now!”

The bearded man’s face twisted with rage as he drew a sharp knife and lunged at Lu Yao’s abdomen.