Episode Summary
Ding Yi and Gu Yangshan frame Yi Aida as a spy, leading to her death. This protects Shen Wanqing but triggers a brutal investigation by a furious Liang Jingyuan. During the interrogations, Needham and Gu Yangshan use clever lies and half-truths to deflect suspicion about their fake marriage and true allegiances.
Spoiler Alert
The Setup
A Perfect Frame Job
The episode kicks off with Ding Yi and Gu Yangshan in a hurry. They show up at Yi Aida’s house carrying a radio. They lie straight to her face. They tell her they confirmed Xian Biyun was their contact. Now Xian Biyun is dead. They say Yi Aida is the next target.
They claim the box holds all the intel they stole from Sanyangli. Their mission is to get her and the intel safely to Shanghai tonight. You can see Yi Aida is totally confused. But she wants the glory for a successful mission. So she agrees to help them sneak out the back.
They get to an alley. Joseph Needham tells her to go on ahead. Yi Aida grabs the box with the radio. She runs nervously into the middle of the street. Then Ding Yi makes a move. He sprints to a signal car and drives away fast. Just like that, Yi Aida is left alone. The Japanese soldiers kill her right there in the street. It was a brutal, calculated setup.
Ding Yi and Gu Yangshan immediately head back to Shen Wanqing’s place. Gu Yangshan is sharp. He figures out Ding Yi’s entire plan. Ding Yi went back to protect Shen Wanqing. He framed Yi Aida to make the Japanese think she was the communist spy.
The Interrogation Begins
Liang Jingyuan sees Yi Aida’s body. He is absolutely furious. He orders a total lockdown of Sanyangli. He even asks his superior, Sasaki, for permission to torture everyone. He especially wants to torture Joseph Needham.
Ding Yi saw this coming. He knew they would face a brutal interrogation. He tells Gu Yangshan they just have to endure it. If they can survive the questioning, they will be safe. Ding Yi then wakes up an unconscious Shen Wanqing. He tells her his real identity. He also says that she is his official handler in the organization.
Alibis and Lies
Later, Liang Jingyuan gathers everyone from the research institute. He is convinced Yi Aida was just a pawn. He demands to know where everyone was for the past few hours. Shen Wanqing is calm. She says she was home the entire time. Gu Yangshan also lies, claiming he was sick in bed.
Needham tries to get out of there. He says he wants to visit Xian Biyun at the hospital. Liang Jingyuan isn't buying it. His eyes are full of suspicion. He refuses to let him leave.
Liang Jingyuan separates Shen Wanqing's students for questioning. Soon, they all hear painful screams from the next room. The sounds are horrifying. A student is then carried out, covered in blood. It’s a terrible sight. His sister, Li Huan, completely breaks down. She cries in her teacher's arms. Liang Jingyuan beat her brother to death.
Needham Under Pressure
Next, it’s Joseph Needham’s turn. Liang Jingyuan has always been suspicious of him. Needham demands to see Sasaki. But Liang Jingyuan is on a power trip. He says that while searching for the spy "White Night," he found many odd things about Xian Biyun. The radio appearing tonight just confirms his theories.
Needham stays calm. He points out the obvious. Xian Biyun was in the hospital when the radio showed up. He himself is blind. He can’t send a telegraph. Liang Jingyuan expected that answer. He plays his trump card. He says he found evidence in their room that they are a fake couple.
Needham doesn't even flinch. He admits they don't share a room. He claims it is because he is a devout religious man. He says they tried at first. But he just couldn't go through with it and moved out. He explains that he left some of his things in her bathroom. The story sounds completely believable.
Gu Yangshan's Turn
Liang Jingyuan brings in Gu Yangshan for questioning. He tries to bribe him. He offers Gu Yangshan the job of institute director if he turns on the others. He asks about the personal habits of Needham and Xian Biyun.
At first, Gu Yangshan gives him a few small, useless details. Liang Jingyuan is not satisfied. He wants more. So Gu Yangshan pretends to give him a huge piece of information. He "reveals" that Needham and Xian Biyun are not a real couple. He frames it as a secret they keep to protect their public image. He warns that if the news got out, it would cause a lot of trouble. It was a clever move. He fed Liang Jingyuan information that Liang already had, making it seem like a big confession.
