Episode Summary
Duan Hongshan identifies a lie in Mei Zheng's testimony, leading Fang Lingyuan to confront her. Mei Zheng admits to helping Jiang Ting but denies a conspiracy, though a blurry video contradicts her story. Jiang Ting confesses that Mei Zheng coached her on the concept of "justifiable defense." At a joint meeting, Fang Lingyuan delivers a passionate argument, reframing Jiang Ting's actions in the context of long-term abuse. Ultimately, he convinces the prosecution to drop the charges, and Jiang Ting is released.
Spoiler Alert
The Flashlight Lie
Duan Hongshan is still stuck in confinement, but his mind is working overtime. He tells Fang Lingyuan that Mei Zheng is the key to everything.He’s found a hole in her story. Mei Zheng claimed she shone a flashlight at Zhang Yuan.Jiang Ting, however, never said anything about a light. This points to two possibilities. Either Mei Zheng lied about the flashlight, or she didn't see the whole event unfold.No matter what her motive is, revenge or something else, Mei Zheng is the link between Jiang Ting's case and the old Li Mufeng case.
The Confrontation
Fang Lingyuan goes to question Mei Zheng. He cuts right to it. He knows she was the person who was cooking at Jiang Ting's apartment. Mei Zheng immediately gets tense. She says you can't just assume she was planning revenge on Zhang Yuan because she was in contact with Jiang Ting. Fang Lingyuan tells her it's time to stop hiding from the past.
Mei Zheng is clearly struggling. Fang Lingyuan pushes, asking if she and Jiang Ting planned it together. She says she just wanted to help Jiang Ting find a new life. Her original idea was to install a camera. She wanted to record Zhang Yuan's domestic abuse so Jiang Ting could finally get a divorce. They both suspected Zhang Yuan would show up, but not that he would arrive early.
That day, Mei Zheng saw Zhang Yuan on Jiang Ting's balcony hitting her. She panicked and started recording with her phone. But when Fang Lingyuan keeps pressing, her story changes. She suddenly becomes calm and says there was no plan. And she tells him he has no proof.
The Video and The Confession
The video from Mei Zheng's phone is blurry. But it confirms one thing. There was no flashlight beam.This makes it very likely she lied in her testimony. It also explains why she was so quick to point out Zhang Yuan at the hearing. She had a plan, but things spiraled out of her control. Now, the big question is how to classify what Jiang Ting did.
Fang Lingyuan shows the video to Jiang Ting. At first, she denies the person in the video is her. Then she hears the video can be restored. She immediately goes back to her original story. She insists it was justifiable self-defense.
After some convincing, Jiang Ting finally tells the truth about her relationship with Mei Zheng. They met at a train station when Jiang Ting was holding her child. Mei Zheng saw her situation and helped her get settled. She even gave her a Blue Gourami fish to liven up the apartment.Jiang Ting then admits that after a call from Zhang Yuan, she completely lost it. She grabbed a knife and was going to kill him. Mei Zheng stopped her. She told her that if Zhang Yuan came looking for her, then it would be self-defense.
The Final Argument
Fang Lingyuan has a third party analyze the video frame by frame.He calls a joint meeting with the other prosecutors. Everyone has a different take. Some argue that while the first stab might have been self-defense, the next six were intentional assault because Zhang Yuan was already down.
Fang Lingyuan makes his case for Jiang Ting. He points out that Zhang Yuan had been harassing her with nearly twenty calls a day for a month.In that state of constant fear, buying a knife was likely for protection. The other prosecutors are still stuck on the number of stab wounds.
Then Fang Lingyuan delivers a powerful argument. He says that after five years of brutal domestic violence, Jiang Ting's fear of Zhang Yuan is something they can't possibly imagine. In that extreme moment, she had no way of knowing if one stab would be enough to stop him. If he got back up, he would have killed her. Fang Lingyuan asks everyone to put themselves in her shoes. Those last few minutes might have been her only chance to escape.
Freedom and Scars
Fang Lingyuan's recommendation is clear. This was justifiable defense. Jiang Ting should not be prosecuted.
When Jiang Ting is released, Lei Shuang is there to pick her up. There are spicy gluten strips in the back seat, a snack her mother always forbade. Jiang Ting grabs them and eats, finally free.
Her mother is waiting at her apartment. She says she was too ashamed to visit. Jiang Ting tells her she is never coming back home and throws her out.
Later, at the beach, Jiang Ting apologizes to Mei Zheng and Fang Lingyuan. Crying, she shows them the scars on her body. She says the ten years she spent with Zhang Yuan were her punishment.She will now live her life with guilt and pay back the debts she owes.
