Episode Summary
The Guidance Team's investigation faces major pushback. After Hong Liang finds evidence of corruption against Xie Hongfei, local officials, led by Li Renjun and with strategic backing from Jiang Xudong, move to neutralize the inquiry. They orchestrate the rapid acquittal of Zhang Wenjing to undermine one of the team's key leverage points. Jiang Xudong then publicly intervenes, ordering the Guidance Team to halt their work, leaving Hong Liang and Zheng Yaping frustrated and the future of the Wanhai case uncertain.
Spoiler Alert
In the Name of Justice - Episode 15: Spoilers and Schemes
The pressure intensifies on multiple fronts as the Guidance Team's investigation into the Wanhai case becomes increasingly obstructed by local interests.
The episode kicks off with Hong Liang discovering a stash of gold bars at Xie Hongfei's old home. Xie's flimsy excuse that they are from his life savings quickly crumbles as he first begs for mercy and then turns insolent, deepening suspicions of corruption. This discovery rattles acting Chief Prosecutor Li Renjun, who fears that a scandal involving Xie, combined with a potential wrongful conviction of Zhang Wenjing, could derail the official designation of the Wanhai case as a major gang-related crime. Such a failure would render his past two years of hard work meaningless and dash his hopes of securing the permanent Chief Prosecutor position.
Seeking advice, Li Renjun confides in Lan Jingming. She attempts to calm his fears, suggesting that Xie's case is a personal matter and shouldn't affect the larger Wanhai investigation. However, she wisely advises him to preemptively review Zhang Wenjing's case and release her if any errors are found. Meanwhile, Cheng Zijian visits the detained Wanhai, who is relieved to hear his brother Wan Chao is safe. Cheng presses Wanhai to admit he framed Zhang Wenjing, a request that infuriates Wanhai, who cannot comprehend the investigators' strategy and doubts anyone would believe his reversal.
The Guidance Team, led by Zheng Yaping and Hong Liang, reports their growing concerns to their superior, Zhang Fang. They highlight numerous suspicious elements, Xie Hongfei's likely abuse of power, and persistent internal leaks that hamper their progress. They formally recommend postponing the Wanhai trial to allow for a more thorough investigation. Li Renjun, who happens to be present, immediately pushes back, arguing the cases should be handled separately to avoid demoralizing his colleagues.
Behind the scenes, the opposition mobilizes. Lan Jingming appeals to CPPCC Chairman Jiang Xudong, hoping he will intervene and keep Hong Liang away from the Wanhai case. Jiang takes a strategic approach, using a provincial badminton tournament to speak with Yan Licheng, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission. Framing his concern as protecting Dongping's stability and development, Jiang arranges a "research" tour of the provincial legal system to gain insight into the Wanhai case, a request Yan Licheng grants.
The local officials then move swiftly. Li Renjun and Lan Jingming convene a meeting to expedite Zhang Wenjing's case, pushing for her immediate release. Simultaneously, Zhang Fang summons Zheng Yaping and Hong Liang back to the provincial capital for a progress report, effectively pulling them from their active investigation. While they are kept waiting for hours, they receive a stunning call: Zhang Wenjing has already been acquitted and released. The speed of this maneuver leaves Hong Liang astonished.
During the subsequent meeting with Jiang Xudong's delegation, the Guidance Team is put on the defensive. Zheng Yaping's report falters as she cannot present concrete evidence for her many suspicions. Hong Liang steps in to explain the constant obstruction they've faced, but the damage is done. Jiang Xudong publicly declares that the Guidance Team must not interfere with the work of the Dongping legal system, effectively halting their investigation.
The fallout is immediate. A furious Zheng Yaping and Hong Liang confront Zhang Fang, who criticizes them for raising unproven suspicions. Hong Liang presses Zhang Fang about unresolved evidence from a previous case, including a USB drive left by the deceased Qiao Zhenxing, but receives only evasive answers and a warning to be careful.
The episode culminates in a tense, late-night encounter. Hong Liang goes to Jiang Xudong's home and finds him tending to his garden. In a thinly veiled metaphor, Jiang advises Hong Liang to focus on his own work and stay out of the Wanhai affair, leaving the future of the investigation in serious jeopardy.
