Chapter 616 - 646: Released Without Charges?
Chapter 616: Chapter 646: Released Without Charges?
Qin Zhonghui said, "Xiao Jiao, let’s go see him together."
"Okay." Qin Jiao nodded. She turned to Shen Yi, reassuring him so he could leave for the office. "Jiuyi is doing so well right now, someone’s bound to get jealous," she said. "Be extra careful. Oh, right. When you go south this time, take Ji Changxing with you in addition to your assistant."
Ji Changxing was now the head of security for their entire corporate group, responsible for the security of all three of their companies. Qin Jiao always had a feeling something was off about the situation in the South, so she was worried about Shen Yi.
Shen Yi said, "I was actually thinking of having him protect you for the next few days."
Qin Jiao chuckled. "Oh, come on. The main concern is the security issue at the southern branch. This is a chance for Ji Changxing to get it all under his management. If I need help, I can just call our own company’s security guards over."
After much back and forth, Shen Yi finally, and reluctantly, headed out the door.
The next morning, Qin Jiao and her father, Qin Zhonghui, went to the police station. After completing the necessary procedures, they were finally able to see Qin Jiqun.
Qin Jiqun’s beard had been shaved and his hair was trimmed. He didn’t look as haggard as he had a few days ago, but his eyes were completely lifeless.
Qin Jiao’s expression remained calm as she looked at her uncle—the man who, in her past life, had successfully leeched off his parents and siblings to live a comfortable, carefree life.
In this life, with no one left for him to leech off, he had ended up in this wretched state.
Qin Jiqun stared blankly at Qin Zhonghui for a few seconds before his gaze fell on Qin Jiao. "Xiao Jiao," he said, "how did you know I didn’t kill anyone?"
"So, did you?"
"I didn’t."
"Then who did?"
Qin Jiqun’s expression faltered again. Qin Jiao waited patiently, but Qin Zhonghui quickly spoke up. "Ji Qun, if you didn’t kill him, just tell them the truth! The police are fair. As long as they can prove you’re not the one who did it, you’ll be acquitted and released!"
Qin Jiqun agonized for another moment.
He looked up at Qin Jiao, his expression a mixture of hesitation and hope. "Xiao Jiao, I know you study law. So, what if—and this is just a hypothetical—what if someone kills another person, but they didn’t mean to? Maybe it was to protect themselves... basically, it wasn’t intentional. Can they be acquitted?"
Qin Jiao answered him firmly, "No."
The sentence might be reduced based on the specific circumstances, but there’s no way they would be acquitted and released.
Qin Jiao said, "If the person’s attitude is cooperative and there are genuine extenuating circumstances, the law might grant a sentence reduction."
"So you’re saying that no matter what, they’ll be imprisoned for a few years, or even ten or more, is that right?"
"Yes."
Qin Jiqun fell silent, looking completely deflated.
Just then, visiting hours ended. Qin Jiao and her father, Qin Zhonghui, had no choice but to leave. As they were heading out, however, they ran into Li Ming, the officer in charge of the case.
Li Ming said, "Feng Lan, who was arrested at the same time, has already testified that Qin Jiqun killed Wang Dagang. If Qin Jiqun doesn’t provide proof that he isn’t the murderer, the case will likely go to trial and he’ll be convicted on that basis."
Qin Zhonghui grew frantic. "It can’t be my brother," he said. "He’s extremely timid. How could he kill someone?"
Li Ming said, "That’s not how it works; we need evidence. Besides, Feng Lan identified Qin Jiqun, and Qin Jiqun himself hasn’t denied it. He hasn’t confessed, either, but one could argue that he’s simply refusing to admit his guilt."