Episode Summary
In his hearing, prosecutor Duan Hongshan is nearly found guilty due to a lack of evidence for his self-defense claim. At the last moment, a video from a live stream surfaces, exonerating him completely. It becomes clear his puzzling behavior was a sacrifice to protect the prosecutorial system. After his release, he confronts Li Mufeng, who admits to hiding the evidence to make Duan experience a similar plight to his own.
Spoiler Alert
"Justifiable Defense" Episode 14 : Justice, Though Flawed, Prevails
The hearing begins with prosecutor Duan Hongshan in a desperate situation: there is no concrete evidence to support his claim of self-defense. He explains to the panel that in his years as a prosecutor, he had always considered the very circumstances he now faces. However, when his own life was threatened, he truly understood the impossibility of calmly pulling out a phone to record evidence or calculating if his defensive actions would be fatal.
Due to his status as a prosecutor, some hearing members are skeptical of his testimony. In a supportive move, Fang Lingyuan presents Duan Hongshan's letter of resignation, but the panel refuses to accept it while the case is ongoing.
In his final statement, Duan Hongshan admits he is not optimistic about his own fate. He hopes his case will illuminate the harsh standards of the self-defense law for the public and relevant authorities. He argues that there is no such thing as a "perfect victim," and society must accept the choices people make when their lives are on the line. He concludes by stating that justice within the legal system is relative and flawed, and he is prepared to accept that "flawed justice."
Fang Lingyuan passionately argues that it is unfair to hold Duan Hongshan to a stricter standard simply because of his profession and vows to continue investigating. Despite her efforts, the hearing members unanimously conclude that without evidence proving the defensive nature of his actions, he must be found guilty.
Just as all hope seems lost, the key evidence materializes. A video from a live stream that Zhou Delong was recording at the time of the incident is discovered in a cloud storage space. The footage unequivocally proves that Duan Hongshan acted in justifiable self-defense.
With this revelation, Fang Lingyuan finally understands the truth behind Duan's actions—from his initial confession and prolonged silence to firing his lawyer. It was all a calculated sacrifice to protect the integrity of the entire prosecutorial system.
Vindicated, Duan Hongshan puts his prosecutor's uniform back on and walks out of the detention center, where he is greeted by his colleague Ding Yi and others. Later, while riding a bus, he gets splashed by a water truck after getting off. As he chases after the truck, a rainbow appears in the mist left by the water.
In a parallel storyline, Li Mufeng is packing up his workshop when Mei Zheng arrives. She hands him an envelope congratulating him on an award. Inside, however, is a ticket. She reveals she has resigned from her job and wants to leave the city of Wuyan with him. Meanwhile, after seeing Duan Hongshan's daughter, Yingying, tenderly caring for her father by covering his wound with a cartoon bandage, his estranged wife, Lei Shuang, quietly tears up what appears to be a separation agreement.
The episode culminates in a confrontation between Duan Hongshan and Li Mufeng. Duan, commissioning a glass checkerboard for his daughter, reveals he knows Li Mufeng was the one who withheld the video evidence. When asked why, Li Mufeng confesses he wanted Duan to face the same kind of impossible situation he once did. He questions why Duan had to "sacrifice" him in a past case. Duan Hongshan responds with a profound reflection: the law is merely the road to justice, and what truly matters is one's perspective on how to walk it.
