Episode Summary

A confession video from the deceased Qiao Zhenxing's phone is discovered, in which he admits to taking bribes from mob boss Wanhai. The video leaks online, causing a public scandal that leads to his daughter, Qiao Yiran, being bullied. Meanwhile, police find three million in cash at Qiao's home, which is later revealed to have been planted by his brother-in-law, Zhou Biao, who was blackmailed into framing him. The discovery divides the investigators; while Xu Yanwu pushes to close the case, Qiao Feng and Li Renjun argue it's a frame-up. The episode ends in a stalemate as Qiao's wife, Zhou Mei, refuses to sign off on the case, determined to clear her husband's name.

Spoiler Alert

In the Name of Justice, Episode 7 Recap: A Confession from the Grave

A video confession recorded by the deceased Qiao Zhenxing surfaces, blowing the case wide open and exposing a deep-seated conspiracy. As the video goes viral, it triggers a cascade of events: his family is thrown into turmoil, a massive cash discovery solidifies the bribery charges, and the key players in the case are forced to show their hands. While some push to close the case, others are convinced it's a sophisticated frame-up, leading to explosive confrontations and a desperate search for the truth.

Key Spoilers & Highlights from the Episode

  • The Incriminating Video: Qiao Zhenxing’s phone is recovered, containing a pre-mortem confession. In it, he admits to taking bribes from the mob boss Wanhai and acting as his protector. The video leaks online, causing a public firestorm that directly targets his family.
  • Three Million in Cash: Acting on a tip, police search the Qiao residence and discover three million in cash hidden under a bed. This discovery seems to confirm the bribery allegations, but Qiao's wife, Zhou Mei, has no idea where the money came from.
  • A Family in Crisis: The leaked video turns Qiao Zhenxing’s daughter, Qiao Yiran, into a pariah at school, where she is physically attacked by her classmates. The incident leaves both mother and daughter devastated.
  • A Coerced Betrayal: Zhou Mei’s brother, Zhou Biao, confesses that he was the one who reported Qiao Zhenxing to the police. He breaks down, admitting he was threatened and forced to plant the three million in cash to frame his brother-in-law.
  • A Divided Investigation: The new evidence creates a rift among the investigators. Qiao Feng and Li Renjun are convinced that Qiao Zhenxing was framed and that his "suicide" was staged. However, their superior, Xu Yanwu, is adamant about accepting the video as truth and closing the case, leading to a heated clash.

Full Recap

The episode kicks off when a sanitation worker finds a mobile phone and sells it to a second-hand shop. The moment the shop owner powers it on, police are alerted. Jiang Hongjun’s team quickly secures the device—it belonged to the late Qiao Zhenxing. On it, they find a bombshell: a video recorded by Qiao just before his death, confessing to his long-term role as a corrupt protector for the crime lord Wanhai.

Simultaneously, Zhou Mei's brother, Zhou Biao, walks into the police station and reports that Qiao Zhenxing accepted a three-million-yuan bribe from Wanhai. Zhou Mei is brought in for questioning, where she is confronted with the video and the accusation. She remains silent. Armed with this information, the police search her home and find the three million in cash exactly where Zhou Biao said it would be: under the bed.

Before the police can contain it, the confession video is leaked online, likely by a hacker, and goes viral. The public fallout is immediate and brutal. At school, Qiao Zhenxing’s daughter, Qiao Yiran, is surrounded, insulted, and beaten by her classmates. When Zhou Mei arrives, she initially scolds her daughter before learning the truth, leading to a heartbreaking moment of regret as the two embrace in tears. The scandal reaches the highest levels, with supervisor Lan Jingming ordering Xu Yanwu to control the public narrative and restore the image of public officials.

Reeling from the discovery of the cash, Zhou Mei confronts her brother. Zhou Biao collapses in tears, confessing everything: he was threatened and blackmailed into reporting Qiao Zhenxing. He admits to planting the money himself to frame his brother-in-law. Terrified of retaliation, he refuses to name the person who forced his hand, begging his sister to drop the investigation. Enraged and determined, Zhou Mei vows to clear her husband's name.

The video sends shockwaves through all parties involved. Li Renjun immediately suspects a frame-up, but Xu Yanwu dismisses his concerns, insisting the video is genuine and sufficient to close the case. In Dongping, Hong Liang sees the video and is stunned. He uses a work report as an excuse to get permission from Zheng Yaping to return to Haizhou, though his true intention is to distance himself from the mess. Meanwhile, Li Renjun tells his wife, Liu Yun, about the three million and mentions that Qiao Zhenxing had recently tried to borrow 200,000 from him, further fueling his suspicion.

As alliances fray, Hong Liang is tormented by the news. He ignores a desperate call from Zhou Mei, who wants to tell him the truth about the frame-up. The next morning, he quietly leaves Dongping. Elsewhere, Liu Yun is cornered in a parking garage by Wan Hong, the brother of the now-jailed Wanhai. With Wanhai's assets frozen, he is about to default on a 300-million-yuan loan that Liu Yun personally guaranteed. He begs her to use her influence at the bank to get an extension, and after weighing her options, she reluctantly agrees to try.

The episode culminates in a tense standoff. Xu Yanwu, eager to put the matter to rest, dispatches Jiang Hongjun and Li Renjun to have Zhou Mei sign the papers officially closing the case. Anticipating resistance, he enlists Qiao Feng to help persuade her. However, Qiao Feng vehemently objects, pointing out glaring inconsistencies: Qiao Zhenxing was a teetotaler, yet his death was ruled an "accidental drowning while intoxicated." Furthermore, his recent movements and call history were never properly investigated. He demands the investigation be reopened, but Xu Yanwu shuts him down, arguing against "creating more complications." Qiao Feng furiously accuses him of cowardice that amounts to letting a murderer get away. The conflict boils over, and the episode ends as Zhou Mei refuses to sign the document, leaving the case and her husband's reputation hanging in the balance.