The results this time came back quickly, in just half a month, a thick pile of documents was presented before them.
Lu Wanqing didn't quite understand these interstellar matters, but she asked Wei Xingzhou to take a look. Wei Xingzhou said the evidence was sufficient. As long as they hired an excellent lawyer, they could completely expose the ten-year-old conspiracy and send An Zhizhi's father to prison.
Not only An Zhizhi's father, but also An Zhizhi's furtive actions of poisoning the root systems of Yu Nong's cultivated ancient Earth honeysuckle plants and secretly damaging Yu Nong's gene observation instrument could also be used to convict her. This would only lead to the Federation revoking An Zhizhi's position and her lifetime eligibility for civil service exams. An Zhizhi might never be able to return to the Academy of Sciences for the rest of her life.
Lu Wanqing was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately took the evidence home, handing it over to Madam Yu and Yu Nong.
To be safe, Lu Wanqing explained everything Wei Xingzhou had said to Madam Yu.
Her family was too naive. Lu Wanqing feared they wouldn't understand the rules and, despite having the evidence, might end up with a lighter sentence for the An family. If that happened, their suffering over the years would have been in vain.
Madam Yu nodded repeatedly. Her hands trembled as she held the documents.
Ten years. She finally had the evidence. Old Yu's injustice would finally be known to all.
Lu Wanqing was still a little uneasy. However, half a month later, she realized her worries were unfounded. Although Madam Yu was naive, the hatred she had harbored for ten years was not easily appeased.
For the past decade, she had simply lacked evidence. Now that she had it, she would certainly not let the An family off the hook.
In the interstellar era, the efficiency of the courts was also high. In just half a month, the case concluded. The actions An Xian had taken ten years ago, once the evidence was submitted, were quickly investigated and clarified.
An Xian was stripped of his position and imprisoned for life.
An Zhizhi's outcome was exactly as Wei Xingzhou had predicted. She was expelled from the Academy of Sciences and deprived of her lifetime eligibility for civil service exams by the Federation Court. From then on, she would be unable to participate in any federal civil service examinations. This meant An Zhizhi could never return to work at the Academy of Sciences for the rest of her life.
"It's a pity it wasn't a life for a life," Lu Wanqing murmured upon hearing the verdict.
For deliberately causing harm leading to death, according to federal law, it should have been a life for a life. However, because An Xian had made significant achievements in the research of mutated plants over the years and had earned merits, he was spared the death penalty and instead sentenced to life imprisonment. An Xian would spend the rest of his days in a federal prison.
Madam Yu's tears flowed uncontrollably, her lips quivering between a sob and a smile. After so many years, the truth was finally out. An Xian had finally faced retribution!
And An Zhizhi too!
Thinking of how An Zhizhi had taken advantage of Nong'er's innocence and tampered with the ancient Earth honeysuckle Nong'er had cultivated right in front of him, and how she had replaced Nong'er's gene detector, Madam Yu felt a chill of fear.
However, it was a cause for joy that they had dealt with An Zhizhi this time as well. Now that An Zhizhi's position at the Academy of Sciences was revoked and her eligibility for civil service exams was gone, it meant An Zhizhi would never appear at the Academy of Sciences again. This way, when Nong'er went to work at the Academy of Sciences in the future, she wouldn't have to worry.
They were all happy. Across from them, An Zhizhi was not.
To be precise, An Zhizhi's mind was still buzzing. The Yu family's lawsuit had come too suddenly; their entire family had not had time to react.
Now that the verdict was out, An Zhizhi's mind was in disarray. She was shocked and disbelieving. Uncle Yu's accident ten years ago was actually caused by her father?
And what about her own actions...
An Zhizhi found it hard to believe. When she did everything, she had already accounted for the blind spots in the Academy of Sciences' internal surveillance, certain she wouldn't be captured. Where did the video Yu Nong presented come from? Had they installed additional surveillance?
Lu Wanqing glanced at An Zhizhi, but only for a moment before looking away. She said to Yu Nong, "Let's go, let's go home first."
Yu Nong also averted his gaze. He looked at Lu Wanqing and nodded, "Mm."
Madam Yu quickly nodded as well.
With all truths revealed and the An family facing retribution, Madam Yu no longer needed to pretend. She happily returned home with Lu Wanqing and Yu Nong.
However, as they boarded the hovercar, Lu Wanqing remained uneasy. Thinking about what had happened to the previous two families, she hesitated and then said to Yu Nong, "Yu Nong, let's hire some bodyguards for Shushu."
"What?" Yu Nong was bewildered again, looking at Lu Wanqing blankly.
Lu Wanqing: "I'll pay for it. I'm a little worried about Shushu's safety." And her own safety.
Madam Yu was also dumbfounded. She couldn't help but ask, "What danger could Shushu be in?"
Hadn't everything been investigated? The An family had already faced retribution. What danger could they still face?
Lu Wanqing said, "Although An Xian is in prison, An Zhizhi's mother, and An Zhizhi, are still out there. Even though An Zhizhi has been expelled from the Academy of Sciences and deprived of her lifetime eligibility for civil service exams, she can still live outside."
Speaking of which, Lu Wanqing suddenly realized that not only An Zhizhi was alive, but Song Yan was also still alive. Although the Federation had issued an arrest warrant for her, there had been no news for so long, and she hadn't been apprehended.
These people remaining at large were a hidden danger. What if they returned one day...
She wasn't worried about the Mu or Zhongli families; those families could protect their children. But the Yu family's situation was less certain.
"How about this, I'll hire some bodyguards. They'll protect Shushu at all times. And Shushu, if she has free time after classes, she could also learn martial arts or mecha piloting. That way, she'll have the ability to protect herself if danger arises," Lu Wanqing said.
Madam Yu: "..."
Yu Nong: "..."
Madam Yu was somewhat dazed by what Lu Wanqing was saying, but Yu Nong quickly understood. It wasn't because he was particularly clever this time, but because he was aware of the two incidents Lu Wanqing had faced previously. Therefore, he seemed to understand that this situation might be quite dangerous?
"Okay," Yu Nong said.
"I'll pay for the bodyguards," he added a moment later.
Yu Nong paused after speaking, then said, "I'll write you an IOU. I'll definitely pay you back later." His voice was muffled.
"Pfft."
Lu Wanqing couldn't help but laugh. She shook her head, "No need. Shushu is also my daughter. It's better for me to pay for her bodyguards."
Yu Nong looked at Lu Wanqing. He said dully, "You need to hire bodyguards too."
Yu Nong was suddenly afraid. Would An Zhizhi, like Lu Yuanyuan and Song Yan, suddenly go mad and target Wanqing?
He was filled with regret. He didn't want to burden Wanqing because of his family's issues, but it seemed there was no other way now?