Episode Summary
Li Renjun grapples with his conscience after learning his wife, Liu Yun, helped cover up Chen Shenglong's role in the Wanchuan Mine disaster. During a tense interrogation with the Special Investigation Team, he conceals the truth to protect her. He then fails to convince a key accomplice, Wang Yu, to confess, who instead threatens to expose everyone. The investigation team uncovers a potential link between Chen Shenglong and a thirteen-year-old case, while Chen's own associates begin to crack under the pressure.
Spoiler Alert
In the Name of Justice: Episode 30 - The Walls Close In
Following the arrest of Jiang Hongjun and Sun Fei by the Special Investigation Team, Li Renjun finds himself at a crossroads. He is torn between his desire to expose the deep-seated corruption and collusion between officials and businesses, and his fear that this new investigation team will be shut down just like the last one. Seeking clarity, he turns to Xu Yanwu, who advises him to think carefully before acting, noting that the team seems determined and formidable this time.
At home, a heartfelt conversation with his son, Li Qiqi, reinforces his resolve. He asks his son a hypothetical question about whether he would report a friend who cheated on a test, and Qiqi's firm "yes" strikes a chord with him. Meanwhile, Lan Jingming summons the leaders of the public security, procuratorate, and judicial departments for a meeting. He reprimands them for their incompetence, highlighting how the Special Investigation Team uncovered errors in the Zhang Wenjing case and subsequently proved that Wanhai was framed. He urges them to cooperate fully and conduct their own internal reviews.
The Special Investigation Team officially exonerates Wanhai, clearing him of all charges. Their next move is to summon all officials connected to the Wanhai case and the Wanchuan Mine disaster for questioning. Li Renjun receives his notice and spends a sleepless night tormented by one question: the nature of the relationship between his wife, Liu Yun, and Chen Shenglong. He confronts Liu Yun, who finally breaks down and confesses that Chen Shenglong was responsible for the mine disaster and that she has inadvertently been acting as his shield. Stunned, Li Renjun demands she accompany him to the investigators to tell the truth, but she refuses, terrified of ruining her career.
The next morning, Li Renjun faces questioning from Zheng Yaping and Bai Ziyan, with Hong Liang observing. Li admits he was too quick to trust the initial police investigation in the Wanhai case due to time pressure. When Zheng Yaping informs him that a key witness has recanted their testimony, Li is forced to concede that Wanhai was wrongly convicted. However, he becomes defensive when she suggests he may be guilty of dereliction of duty.
In a private conversation, Hong Liang presses Li Renjun about purchasing a discounted house and holding a birthday party at a restaurant owned by Chen Shenglong's Tianlong Group. Li answers truthfully but lies when asked about his wife's connection to Chen, insisting it is purely professional. Hong Liang, knowing Li had visited both Wanhai and Wang Yu in prison, correctly guesses that Li already suspected the truth. Despite Hong's urging, Li Renjun refuses to confess what he knows, leading a frustrated Hong Liang to storm out.
Desperate, Li Renjun meets with Wang Yu and urges him to turn himself in and confess that Chen Shenglong ordered him to frame Wanhai. Wang Yu scoffs at the idea, confident that the team is no match for Chen Shenglong. He then threatens Li Renjun, warning that if he goes down, he will expose the illegal dealings between Liu Yun and Chen, taking them down with him.
The investigation takes a new turn when Zheng Yaping discovers that thirteen years ago, Wanhai acquired the Dacheng Mine from Yu Tiancheng for free. This happened around the same time Chen Shenglong founded the Tianlong Group, leading both her and Hong Liang to suspect a link to the old "1.31 Case."
The episode closes with Chen Shenglong meeting his associates. While Cheng Zijian remains confident their tracks are covered, Wang Yu is visibly shaken. He reminds them of the Special Investigation Team's power, lamenting how he was used as a pawn by Chen Shenglong—first to frame Wanhai as a gangster, and then as part of a larger scheme to seize his mine and orchestrate the disaster. He now lives in fear of being arrested himself.
