Chapter 1071: 715: The Final Judgment, Milder Than Expected (Part 1)

"You’re talking about Yin Shiqing—he went into politics in his early twenties. After a thirty‑year political career, do you really think he achieved so little?""But in the end, the people he killed, the mistakes he made, make it really hard to judge whether, in his life, his merits outweigh his faults, or whether his sins wipe out all his achievements."

Ma Xingchang lifted his eyes slightly and looked at Bai Sidong, and couldn’t help asking,

"But if you don’t try, how will you ever know you can’t do it?"

This question made Bai Sidong genuinely laugh from the bottom of his heart.

"Is that very funny?"

"That’s why you became the Old Man’s student."

"..."

Ma Xingchang was stunned for a moment.

"You’re the one thinking about climbing up, about breaking new ground. I’m not."

"Xing Chang, this is good. At the very least, I’ll make sure that position of municipal public security bureau chief is locked down tight for you."

"..."

Ma Xingchang looked at Bai Sidong, and in that Instant, hot blood surged in his chest; he actually couldn’t find any words.

Bai Sidong patted him on the shoulder,

"The only thing you need to do is not become someone like Yin Shiqing—after doing everything for the country and the people, you start doing everything for yourself."

"Third Brother, compared to Teacher, I might admire you more."

Bai Sidong smiled,

"You can’t let the Old Man hear that, or he’ll be heartbroken."

Ma Xingchang lowered his gaze, and a faint smile actually appeared on his face.

Seeing him smile, Bai Sidong felt much more at ease.

He stood up,

"So? Do you still have any official business next? Want to go up the mountain with me?"

"No, I have to go back to the municipal government. There’s still work I haven’t finished. Help me say hello to Teacher."

Ma Xingchang stood up as well and said helplessly.

"Fine, big busy man."

With that, Bai Sidong slung an arm over Ma Xingchang’s shoulder and left the courtroom.

Yin Shiqing’s trial had already concluded. From the opening of the proceedings to the end of the hearing, not one person from the Yin Family showed up; Yin Shixiu and Su Xiaomeng ultimately never came.

More than the verdict itself, this fact was what Yin Shiqing found hardest to accept.

Weren’t they hell‑bent on making him pay with his life for their child? Weren’t they determined to witness his miserable end with their own eyes?

Yet... after that night.

Yin Shixiu and Su Xiaomeng never appeared before him again.

Given such a chance to personally witness his downfall, they actually... didn’t even show their faces.

Yin Shixiu...

Su Xiaomeng...

.................

"Shuangshuang! Be careful! The ground’s really slippery!"

At this moment, Yin’s Villa on Jiuling Mountain was nothing like its usual quiet; it was bustling.

In the backyard, Shuangshuang, wrapped in a long down coat that reached her ankles, was rolling around in the snow, running back and forth without the slightest fear of falling.

Prince Huang was busy as anything. No one knew who taught him this, but he was digging traps in the snow. The pits weren’t very big.

But Shuangshuang was really giving him face—she fell into every single one.

And she didn’t feel embarrassed at all; with her face full of snow, she kept giggling nonstop.

Watching from the side, Su Xiaomeng couldn’t begin to describe how anxious she felt.

She honestly hadn’t figured out whether Shuangshuang was a boy or a girl at heart.

As for the kidnapping case a month ago, it ultimately hadn’t left too heavy a shadow in Shuangshuang’s carefree little heart.

Of those two kidnappers, one died on the spot, and the other was sentenced to life.

Shuangshuang never again brought up anything related to those two kidnappers.

But Yin Shaohui and Zhou Mengqin, quite serious and worried, had asked Shuangshuang if he had been very scared back then.

Every time Su Xiaomeng thought of the little girl’s answer after pondering for a long time, she felt both amused and heartbroken...

"I wasn’t scared at all! They’re the ones who should be scared! Bullying Shuangshuang—Dad will blow them up!"

The little girl, putting on a brave front, shouted with full momentum, then as if she suddenly remembered something, slipped over to Yin Shixiu, and quietly asked,

"Dad, d–did you blow them up or not?"

The worry in her words betrayed the lingering fear in her heart.

After getting Yin Shixiu’s firm answer, the little girl’s confidence swelled again, and she went on,

"They looked really fierce! But Shuangshuang was very brave! Braver than Brother!"

As soon as Shuangshuang said this, Prince Huang’s ears pricked up, and he muttered under his breath,

"All talk..."

Shuangshuang didn’t hear him, so the matter passed.

However...

In the week after that, in private, when no one else was around, Shuangshuang would often ask her,

"Mom, how is Susu... is Susu okay?"

At first Xiao Meng didn’t know who she meant by "Susu."

Only after she explained did Xiao Meng realize that Shuangshuang was talking about the brothers Shi Xiaohai and Shi Xiaoyang.

But the "Susu" she mentioned wasn’t both of them in general—it specifically meant Shi Xiaoyang.

Su Xiaomeng didn’t want to lie to Shuangshuang, so she only said,