Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: Forged Will

Chapter 123: Forged Will

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Gu Ci handed the report to him.

Lu Zhiyuan looked at the report brought by Gu Ci, his voice deep and filled with hidden anger. “Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”

“Good, very good!” Lu Zhiyuan’s anger subsided, but then he remembered something. “You’ve had the tea, how are you feeling?”

“The toxin in this powder is mild, my body can metabolize it.” Gu Ci was still young, and his metabolism was faster than Lu Ze’s. He had only drunk it a few times, at most experiencing some drowsiness as a side effect.

Lu Zhiyuan felt slightly relieved. “It’s quite a spectacle. I really want to see what they’re up to!”

The news of Lu Ze’s failed surgery and brain death spread quickly. The hospital had sealed the information, which was supposed to be highly confidential, but somehow it had leaked out. With Lu Zhiyuan’s tacit approval, the news of Lu Ze’s death made it to the trending searches.

The Lu Corporation was in chaos without a leader. The senior executives were shaken, and at this moment, they all hoped for someone to come forward and take charge of the situation.

After the National Day holiday, the stock price of the Lu Corporation plummeted, evaporating billions of dollars in market value for several consecutive days. On this weekend, Lawyer Yang summoned Xu Tingting, Lu Shijie’s three sons, and Lu Zhiyuan to the law firm to read Lu Ze’s will.

“Are you interested in watching the show?” Lu Zhiyuan asked.

Gu Ci winked mischievously. “I can’t refuse your generous offer. I’ll gladly comply.”

“Watching the show comes with a venue fee.”

“I’ll owe you then.” Gu Ci pouted. “You’re so calculative, Third Brother.”

Lu Zhiyuan chuckled and took Gu Ci to the law firm. Xu Tingting, Lu Shijie, and Lu Shixiu were already there. Lu Shijie had just been discharged from the hospital a few days ago, and although he still walked unsteadily, he was much better.

Lawyer Yang was the legal advisor for the Lu Corporation and also Lu Ze’s personal lawyer. They had been working together for many years and had a great understanding. He was nearly fifty years old, gentle and refined, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and had a polite demeanor.

“All the young masters and Ms. Xu are here, so I will begin reading the will. This is the wall that Mr. Lu Ze secretly signed a month ago. If anything happened to him, it w’as to be read in the presence of the heirs. I have confirmed with the hospital that Mr. Lu Ze is brain dead and this will have taken effect. 1 would like to know if the heirs have any objections,” Lawyer Yang said.

Xu Tingting was nervous and shook her head, and Lu Zhiyuan had no objections either.

Lawyer Yang nodded and took out the will, making three copies and handing them to Lu Zhiyuan, Lu Shijie, and Lu Shixiu.

Lawyer Yang said, “The ancestral properties of the Lu family, as well as six villas, are left to the Third Young Master. Two companies related to downstream products of racing cars are also left to the Third Young Master. Mr. Lu Ze’s shares wall be inherited by the Eldest Young Master, and the core management rights wall also be handed over to the Eldest Young Master. The Second Young Master will have shares in two technology companies, and Ms. Xu, in addition to several properties, cars, and jewelry, wall also serve as the chairman of the Lu Corporation’s fund. These are the contents of Mr. Lu Ze’s will.”

Lu Shijie w’as overjoyed and couldn’t believe it. He trembled with excitement. “Father still trusts me. He still believes in me.”

“You have been managing the company for many years, so of course, your father trusts you,” Xu Tingting said with great satisfaction. She w’as the manager of the Lu family’s fund and held real powder, which was still in Lu Ze’s hands.

“Lawyer Yang, when w’as this wall signed?” Lu Zhiyuan asked casually. “Besides you and my father, who else w’as present?”

Lawyer Yang pushed his glasses. “Only Mr. Lu Ze and I were present. It w’as signed last month. He had a premonition about his health and privately asked me to draw up the wall. Later, he mentioned that he wanted to make some modifications to the will, but he didn’t have time to draft the clauses. Unfortunately, Mr. Lu Ze had an accident before he could make any changes. It’s a great pity, Third Young Master.”

The signature w’as indeed Lu Ze’s signature, and the seal was also Lu Ze’s seal. It couldn’t be faked.

Lu Shijie said, “Lu Zhiyuan, you have always looked down on the Lu Corporation and mentioned it in front of our father many times. You won’t inherit the Lu family. Father has given you the ancestral properties, properties, and two companies just as you wished.”

Gu Ci chuckled. “Compared to the property and shares of the Lu family, this is a drop in the bucket. Uncle Lu favors Third Brother so much, everyone knows that. I don’t believe he would sign such a wall.”

Xu Tingting’s face changed slightly. “Gu Ci, are you questioning the authenticity of the will? This is a family meeting of the Lu family, and you have no right to attend. Please leave!”

“When did it become your turn to meddle in the affairs of the Lu family?” Lu Zhiyuan said.

Lawyer Yang said sternly, “Third Young Master, I have served Mr. Lu Ze for over a decade, and my law’ firm has handled many legal matters for the Lu Corporation. I vouch for the authenticity of the wall based on my reputation.”

“My father is lying on the hospital bed, declared brain dead, and suddenly a wall is produced. I don’t believe it.” Lu Zhiyuan looked at Lawyer Yang. “Lawyers are cautious in their w’ork. Was there a video recording of the wall being signed?” “Yes!” Lawyer Yang took out his phone and showed Lu Zhiyuan, Lu Shijie, and Lu Shixiu a video of the signing of the will.

In the video, only Lawyer Yang and Lu Ze w’ere present.

Lawyer Yang asked, “Mr. Lu, the will takes effect immediately after it is signed. Have you made up your mind?”

“It wall have a result sooner or later, and it wall prevent them from fighting among themselves.”

Lu Ze signed the will, and Lawyer Yang kept the will safe. Lu Ze told him not to tell anyone about it and that he would announce it to everyone at a family meeting.

“Lu Zhiyuan, what are you questioning? It w’as signed by Father,” Xu Tingting said.

Lu Zhiyuan closed the video, his face filled with mockery. “Lawyer Yang, why wasn’t the content of the wall recorded?”

“Third Young Master, you’re… making things difficult for me!”

“I have also made a wall,” Lu Zhiyuan said indifferently. “My father is the designated heir, but the beneficiary of my wall is not him. My legal counsel advised me to record the entire content of the will to prevent any changes. It is the most crucial evidence in a court of law. I am the rightful heir to Lu Ze’s property, so if he intended to make this will, why wasn’t the content recorded? Is it because Lawyer Yang, with his outstanding abilities, forgot to remind him, or did he tamper with the contents of the wall?”

“You’re defaming me!” Lawyer Yang frowned, his face displeased, and he tightly gripped the pen in his hand. “I won’t accept baseless accusations unless you can provide evidence!”

“Your will isn’t any solid evidence either,” Lu Zhiyuan’s face grew cold.

“Can Third Young Master produce another will from Mr. Lu Ze?” Lawyer Yang’s tone grew firm. “You may refuse to inherit the Lu Corporation, but I’ve heard Mr. Lu Ze mention it more than once. This wall was signed quite reasonably. He was nurturing the Eldest Young Master because he wanted to hand over the Lu family to him.”

“I can do without such things!” Lu Zhiyuan’s eyes were deep and cold. “But that doesn’t mean you can snatch them aw’ay!”

Xu Tingting said, “Lu Zhiyuan, everyone knows about your relationship with your father. He has been grooming Shijie as the successor for several years. Even if you’re dissatisfied, you can’t question his decision.”

Lu Shixiu, as a beneficiary, remained silent on the side.

“Then let’s go to court!” Gu Ci said calmly. “Since you can’t provide a video recording of the will’s content and Third Brother questions the authenticity of the will, let’s present our case in court and let the law’ decide..”