Chapter 80 Deliberation
"Regarding the suspected leak of secrets by military academy cadet Zhou Jiu and the cancellation of the legality of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army after the promulgation of the new military law, all armed forces not permitted by the federal government are reactionary acts that threaten federal social security. Zhou Jiu's former military status as a member of the reactionary army is not recognized. According to the provisions of the new military law, Zhou Jiu violated Article 412 of the new military law, and the following judgment is hereby given."
"Considering that cadet Zhou Jiu joined the Volunteer Army before the promulgation of the new military law, but failed to withdraw from the non-government-permitted armed organization after its promulgation, and directly joined another army after canceling his illegal military registration within the prescribed time, which constitutes a violation of military regulations; and that he leaked classified documents of the First Military Region, causing harm to the military region and resulting in losses to the First Military Region, in accordance with Article 412, he shall be expelled from the First Military Region and sentenced to ten years in prison."
"The sentence for Zhou Jiu will take effect 15 days after the sentence is handed down. If there is any objection, an appeal can be filed within 15 days for a second instance trial."
Zhou Jiu looked up at the makeshift military court convened by a company-level commander, and then at the judge before him. “Judge, I have objections and request an appeal.”
A short while later, Zhou Jiu was taken back.
In the visiting room, Zhou Jiu sat at the table and looked at Chu Zhao and Ms. Liu Ci who had appeared there.
"Hello, Auntie." Zhou Jiu, still wearing electronic handcuffs, greeted her and then silently sat down in her seat.
"How have you been lately?" Chu Zhao broke the silence first.
"...I'm fine." Zhou Jiu smiled slightly, then said apologetically, "I'm sorry for acting first and informing you later."
The two were a little awkward with each other. Zhou Jiu looked at Ms. Liu Ci and said, "Chu Zhao, would it be convenient for me and Auntie to have a chat?"
"Zhaozhao, you can go out now!"
Zhou Jiu raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this address, but unfortunately, now was not the time for flirting, and she and Chu Zhao didn't know if they would have a future together.
Chu Zhao went out, the door opened and closed again, and Ms. Liu Ci sat down opposite him and said directly, "Zhou Jiu, it's been a long time."
"Ms. Liu, it's been a long time. How have you been?" Zhou Jiu's expression was not as natural as when Chu Zhao was around; it carried a hint of the inherent wariness one has towards a master of mental power. This was her true self.
Liu Ci smiled when he saw Zhou Jiu's expression. "I thought you really didn't have a single grudge against me."
Zhou Jiu shook his head. "Actually, no. No matter what, I should find the culprit instead of blaming others."
Liu Ci smiled, with a hint of kindness, and said, "Actually, I should have let you choose whether to unlock your memory lock on the day you came of age, but I didn't expect that some things would delay it until today."
Zhou Jiu frowned and looked over, while Liu Ci asked with a hint of amusement, "Didn't Zhao Zhao tell you about my appointment with you?"
Zhou Jiu paused for a moment, recalling her conversation with Chu Zhao that day, and suddenly felt that it was possible that she had said something that made Chu Zhao change his mind. Could it be her marriage proposal?
"So you didn't have that before? You kids." Liu Ci said with a hint of teasing.
Seeing that Zhou Jiu remained silent, Liu Ci continued, "Do you want to unlock the memory lock?"
“Yes.” Zhou Jiu didn’t hesitate at all. She didn’t want to go back to the day when she couldn’t even find her own home.
"The mental memory lock has confused your past memories, but sometimes there are things that people can't truly accept. Many people choose to escape, but some people can't escape and this can lead to mental problems. Sometimes the memory lock is a form of protection, so do you still choose to unlock the memory lock now?"
“Yes, I want to unlock the memory lock. It’s a part of my life no matter what, and I don’t want to run away from it,” Zhou Jiu replied.
Liu Ci smiled with satisfaction, "You look a lot like your mother."
Zhou Jiu suddenly looked at Liu Ci, surprised, "You know my mother?"
Liu Ci did not continue to talk to Zhou Jiu about her mother, but simply said, "I saw your progress in the Mental Memory Palace course on the Star Network, and I also heard that you have solved the last layer. Now I will teach you some things, and you can study and solve it on your own."
Zhou Jiu looked at Liu Ci with suspicion and asked, "How did you know that?" She had never told Chu Zhao about the mental memory shackles, and no one else knew about it except her most trusted partner.
Liu Ci smiled slightly and shook his head gently: "Zhou Jiu, close your eyes and feel the direction of your spiritual power and the way it leads to the spiritual power within the shackles when I guide it."
As soon as Zhou Jiu closed her eyes, Liu Ci instantly transported her to her own mental sea. All the mental palaces she had set up were completely unimpeded by Liu Ci. Liu Ci's mental power flowed freely within Zhou Jiu's mental sea, guiding her mental power along a specific trajectory. After circling around the lock once, Liu Ci's mental power vanished instantly.
Zhou Jiu also opened his eyes, now completely at ease with Liu Ci. Some people are just too powerful; no matter how much you try to defend yourself, you can't defeat them, so it's better to just let things take their course.
Liu Ci didn't talk to Zhou Jiu about anything else. Following the thread of conversation, Zhou Jiu suddenly thought of someone and asked directly, "Do you know Sun You?"
A slight smile appeared on Liu Ci's lips as he said to Zhou Jiu, "I know a lot of people."
After Liu Ci left, Chu Zhao came in and asked in a rather unfriendly tone, "Where are Lin Xiu and Sun You? Didn't they find you a lawyer?"
Zhou Jiu rarely saw Chu Zhao with such an expression, as if he was angry or arguing with himself. At this moment, he still had the mood to stare blankly at Chu Zhao, who was showing his emotions.
"...I don't know." Zhou Jiu had figured out their general movements. She knew Sun You was fine, but Lin Xiu was probably gathering people to rescue her from prison.
“…”
"I've found you a lawyer. Let's discuss how to appeal and succeed." Chu Zhao was silent for a moment after hearing Zhou Jiu's words, then went out again and brought back a lawyer.
“…Thank you.” Zhou Jiu could only utter these two words as he looked at Chu Zhao, who was sitting far away.
The lawyer and Zhou Jiu were discussing the case as usual when Zhou Jiu suddenly asked Chu Zhao directly, "Are you breaking up with me?"
“…”
Zhou Jiu smiled and said, "I'll take your silence as a sign that you disagree."
"Can you be serious? Do you still want your sentence reduced?" Chu Zhao said seriously, looking at Zhou Jiu, who was acting carefree and joking around, not doing anything productive.
"Knock, knock, knock." After a few knocks on the door alerted the people inside, the guards outside brought in two more people.
A lawyer accompanied Saiwei also arrived.
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