Episode Summary
In "In the Name of Justice" Episode 9, two investigations converge. Qiao Feng contests the official ruling of his brother Qiao Zhenxing's death, believing the teetotaler was framed for a drunk driving accident. Meanwhile, prosecutor Hong Liang receives Qiao Zhenxing's secret files on the Wanhai case, which suggest a conspiracy involving high-ranking officials Li Renjun and Wang Yu. A tense confrontation between Hong Liang and an enraged Li Renjun follows. The episode culminates at the wedding of Li Renjun's daughter to Cheng Zijian, who is revealed to be Wanhai's compromised former lawyer. This event exposes a web of connections, including a suspicious "gift" of a luxury apartment from the powerful Tianlong Group. The episode ends as Qiao Feng obtains his brother's final movements, teaming up with Hong Liang to pursue the truth at the scene of the incident.
Spoiler Alert
In the Name of Justice, Episode 9 Recap: A Web of Lies
As two sprawling investigations—the suspicious death of a prosecutor and a deeply corrupted legal case—begin to intertwine, the line between ally and adversary blurs, revealing that the most dangerous secrets are kept by those sworn to uphold the law.
The Brother's Suspicions
The episode opens with Qiao Feng still reeling from the official ruling on his brother Qiao Zhenxing's death. He refuses to accept that his brother, a teetotaler, would die in a drunk driving accident, especially with empty liquor bottles conveniently placed in his car. Qiao Feng's attempts to retrace his brother's final hours hit a dead end: crucial surveillance footage from the Yongqing River area is missing due to "maintenance."
Desperate for answers, Qiao Feng appeals to his former commander and current superior, Xu Yanwu, to reopen the investigation. However, Xu Yanwu dismisses his concerns, urging him to drop the matter for his own good. Though Qiao Feng falls silent, his determination to uncover the truth only hardens.
A Confrontation and a Warning
Meanwhile, prosecutor Hong Liang receives a bombshell: the complete case files on the Wanhai case, meticulously gathered by the late Qiao Zhenxing. The files, delivered by Ma Zhongyang who has also reported the matter to the Provincial Chief Prosecutor, point to a conspiracy. Hong Liang and his colleague Zheng Yaping deduce that Wang Yu and Li Renjun likely framed Wanhai on gang-related charges and deliberately had Qiao Zhenxing transferred off the case.
Armed with this new evidence, Hong Liang confronts Li Renjun directly. He tests the waters, suggesting Wang Yu may have set Wanhai up. The reaction is explosive. Li Renjun flies into a rage, accusing Hong Liang of dredging up a closed case and claiming his meddling is what drove Qiao Zhenxing to "suicide out of fear of punishment." He orders Hong Liang to focus solely on the Zhang Wenjing case. Undeterred, Hong Liang's persistent questions infuriate Li Renjun, who curtly ends the conversation to attend a "meeting," pointedly handing Hong Liang a box of tea as he shoos him out the door.
The Two-Faced Lawyer and a Forced Betrayal
The investigation into the Wanhai case leads Zheng Yaping to Cheng Zijian, Wanhai's former defense attorney. Cheng is obsequiously charming, flattering Zheng Yaping and her superior, Wang Chunxiang, yet claims he doesn't even know Wanhai. When pressed on why he switched from a "not guilty" defense to arguing for a lighter sentence (a guilty plea), Cheng evasively states it was in his client's best interest. His cagey demeanor raises immediate red flags for Zheng.
Elsewhere, the Wanhai family's desperation grows. Wan Hong tracks down Chen Youcai, a childhood friend who gave false testimony against Wanhai. Terrified, Chen admits that Wang Yu coerced him. While Wan Hong is furious at the betrayal, the family's coal mine is under blockade by Wang Yu's men. Begging for help, he convinces a guilt-ridden Chen to risk Wang Yu's wrath and lead a convoy to transport their coal.
A Wedding of Secrets
The episode's central set piece is the wedding of Li Renjun's daughter, Li Yanxin, to none other than the lawyer Cheng Zijian. Li Renjun uses the occasion to try and mend fences with Hong Liang. At the intimate, one-table reception, Hong Liang recognizes Cheng Zijian but can't place him. He discreetly snaps a photo and sends it to Zheng Yaping for identification.
The atmosphere is thick with tension. Another guest, Lan Jingming, makes a point of speaking to Hong Liang, reminiscing about the old days between him, Li Renjun, and the deceased Qiao Zhenxing. Just then, Zheng Yaping's text arrives: Cheng Zijian is Wanhai's former lawyer. The connection clicks into place, and Hong Liang excuses himself.
As Li Renjun sees him out, Hong Liang asks if he introduced Cheng to the Wanhai family. Li Renjun denies it, claiming his daughter was dating the well-known lawyer long before the case. At that moment, Hong Liang receives a message from Qiao Feng. Xu Yanwu had "accidentally" left behind the file containing Qiao Zhenxing's final movements, and Qiao Feng now has it.
The final threads begin to connect when Li Renjun questions his daughter about the lavish apartment she and Cheng received as a wedding gift. She explains it was an "employee benefit" from Chen Shenglong, the chairman of the powerful Tianlong Group, as a reward for Cheng's legal services. Unseen by the wedding party, Chen Shenglong himself waits in a car outside, only entering to offer his congratulations after confirming Hong Liang has left—a clear sign of a clandestine relationship between him and the lawyer. The episode closes with Hong Liang and Qiao Feng meeting, crucial timeline in hand, ready to head to the last place Qiao Zhenxing was seen alive.
