Chapter 750 The First Lawyer of Dafeng

About half an hour later.

Fang Xuning's gaze towards Shen Wantang had changed, and his tone had become more serious: "I never expected that the Second Young Madam would be such a remarkable woman. Not only is she knowledgeable and erudite, but she is also well-versed in legal texts and has a deep understanding of legal matters. My apologies for my disrespect!"

Shen Wantang's tone was also very polite: "Lawyer Fang is quick-witted and eloquent, and his reputation is well-deserved. It seems I made the right choice in coming to you."

Fang Xuning recalled the complaint Du Juan had given him, and a thought struck him: "The Second Young Mistress is looking for me, could it be that she wants me to help that death row inmate named Chen Xiaowu get acquitted?"

Shen Wantang corrected him: "It's not about exonerating him, but about clearing his name. Chen Xiaowu should be released without charge."

Fang Xuning frowned: "Second Young Madam, it's true that I'm eloquent, but I don't have the ability to get the prison to release people. That requires approval from the Dali Temple."

"The person Chen Xiaowu killed was Tai Chong, the nephew of Tai Yuliang, the Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion! Grand Secretary Tai is a close advisor to the Emperor, and his words carry great weight. Which civil or military official in the capital doesn't give him face?"

"Even if Chen Xiaowu committed manslaughter by mistake and did it to save someone, it's useless! No matter how well your complaint is written, the people at the Dali Temple will just pretend they didn't see it. They would never offend Lord Tai for the sake of a lowly commoner."

Shen Wantang calmly replied, "You just need to do as I say and defend Chen Xiaowu. As for the Dali Temple, I have my own way of letting them see my complaint."

Fang Xuning wasn't surprised by this. He thought that Shen Wantang had married into a high-ranking family like the Duke's Mansion, so it would be easy for her to smooth things over at the Dali Temple. The Duke of Zhenguo, Gu Rongchang, was far more powerful and influential than Tai Yuliang.

But he had another concern: "I had been involved in this case before. In fact, the key to the case was not even on the side of the Dali Temple, but on the woman that Chen Xiaowu saved. The woman's testimony was the key to Chen Xiaowu's conviction."

"She insisted that Chen Xiaowu had tried to rape her, and that Tai Chong had bravely stepped in to save her, only to be killed by Chen Xiaowu!"

"His crimes were compounded by his intent to rape a respectable woman and murder a righteous official's son who had intervened to help others. This is the real reason he was sentenced to death!"

Shen Wantang nodded: "Yes, I know. Lawyer Fang doesn't need to worry about that. The woman's testimony will change today. She will tell the truth."

Fang Xuning was stunned. Was this second young mistress really that capable? She could manage everything from top to bottom? Just to exonerate a lowly commoner?

After thinking it over carefully, he asked cautiously, "May I ask, Second Young Madam, what is Chen Xiaowu's relationship with you?"

Shen Wantang smiled and said, "He's not anyone to me, but the younger brother of one of my maids. Since he's a close relative of one of my people, I can't just stand by and watch him die."

Fang Xuning clicked his tongue in amazement: "It's rare to see someone as noble as the Second Young Mistress treat her servants so well!"

Although he said that, he was actually half-believing and half-doubting. Based on his life experience, no one would go to such great lengths and go through so much trouble to save a stranger without any benefit to them.

He was a lawyer who had been immersed in all kinds of lawsuits for many years and had dealt with all sorts of people. He knew how dark human nature could be, and any kind and good character would have to be questioned in his eyes.

However, he didn't care whether Shen Wantang was genuinely kind or not, and wisely refrained from asking further. Instead, he coughed lightly and said, "Second Young Madam, I'm not defending people for nothing. As you know, this is how I make a living. I have an eighty-year-old mother and a young child at home. You see..."

Shen Wantang gestured to the side: "Azalea."

Du Juan stepped forward and handed a money bag to Fang Xuning.

Fang Xuning took it and weighed it briefly, knowing that there were at least ten taels of silver inside.

A hint of joy appeared on his face. The young mistress of a wealthy family was indeed different. She gave ten taels of silver in one go. This was much better than him helping those poor bastards with their futile work!

Before he could even express his gratitude, he heard Shen Wantang, who was sitting at the head of the table, say calmly, "This is a deposit. There will be a reward after you get the person out."

It was just a deposit?

Fang Xuning was overjoyed and quickly said, "Don't worry, Second Young Madam, I will do my best!"

"Litigation lawyer, do you have any other familiar lawyers around you?"

Fang Xuning immediately became wary. What did this mean? Was this second young mistress afraid that he wouldn't be able to accomplish what she had asked him to do, so she wanted to find other lawyers to help?

He quickly replied, "I don't know many of them well, and I'm not bragging, but the other lawyers are not as eloquent as me, nor are they as willing to take risks and offend people as I am!"

Shen Wantang glanced at him indifferently: "I think that lawyer Fang is a bit weak on his own, and his reputation is not good, which is not conducive to your defense."

Even Fang Xuning, who is usually quick-witted and eloquent, was somewhat confused at this moment, wondering what Shen Wantang's intention was in saying all this.

She'd already paid, and then he started complaining about this and that—was she going to try to negotiate the price? Or wanted to change the person?

That won't work! That doesn't make sense!

But when I discussed the case with her in depth just now, she clearly had very strong logical thinking and reacted very quickly. She didn't seem like a stupid person!

He thought for a long time but couldn't come up with a solution, so he could only laugh awkwardly and say, "Second Madam, it's normal for lawyers to have both a good reputation and a bad one. Those who believe in me naturally won't care about my reputation, and those who don't believe in me won't come to me for a case no matter how good my reputation is."

Shen Wantang leisurely sipped her tea, but her first words stunned Fang Xuning: "Has lawyer Fang ever thought about forming his own team of lawyers, strengthening himself, and competing with the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review?"

"How is this possible!"

Fang Xuning exclaimed, his eyes wide: "Lawyers have a low status, and nobody takes us seriously. To think that we can stand up to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review is just a pipe dream!"

"If you can become the top lawyer in Dafeng, it will not be a pipe dream."

"The top lawyer in Dafeng? Me?!"

"Yes, you. What, does the lawyer not want this lasting fame?"

Looking at Shen Wantang's beautiful and refined face and listening to her melodious voice, Fang Xuning belatedly realized that he had judged her by her appearance and had underestimated her.

It turns out that Shen Wantang's target today wasn't Chen Xiaowu, but him!

Her ambition sent shivers down his spine!

But this trembling wasn't from fear, but from excitement and exhilaration!

He clenched his fists tightly: "Of course I want the title of the number one lawyer in Dafeng! I just don't know if the second young mistress really has the ability to let me get this title, and I don't know what price the second young mistress will make me pay."