Chapter 34: The Chain Reaction
The tree longs for stillness, but the wind won’t stop—the first domino has already fallen. Media outlets and television networks quickly spread news of the verdict across the UK. The Sun featured the courtroom proceedings on its front page, questioning the leniency of the sentencing and hinting that the judge might be biased in favor of the defendant. The Daily Mail took a more balanced approach, explaining the jury's decision and the judge’s rationale based on existing evidence and UK laws concerning disputed foreign artifacts, though it did raise concerns about whether the current laws allow the UK to act as both judge and jury. Some tabloids, eager to grab attention, published numerous photos of the auction house’s storage rooms filled with Asian artifacts. ITV (Independent Television) compiled and aired a 10-minute news investigation during prime time, using footage from the trial. Websites for the Daily Mirror and The Times prominently featured the case. Meanwhile, several independent media outlets reached out to Liyan for interviews, tempting her as she sought ways to turn the tide in her favor. “I advise you not to give any interviews,” Martha warned. “You can’t control how some outlets might edit your words to fit their narrative. They might twist things around and paint you as an irrational ‘bitter woman’ or a ‘vengeful goddess,’ eroding the sympathy and support you currently have. Most mainstream media still appear neutral, slightly leaning toward our side. If we can gather more evidence, there might still be a chance to turn this around. Sensationalists don’t care about the truth; they’re more interested in the juicy gossip behind the case. To grab headlines, the media has lost its commitment to obje