Episode Summary
Ding Yi and Gu Yangshan reunite to save Meng Jie, who has been framed as a traitor. They expose a corruption scheme to stop her execution at the last second. However, the rescue comes at a high cost, forcing Gu Yangshan's father to bribe officials. Now, with a new list of people to save, the group finds themselves cornered when Luo Han raids the Gu family mansion.
Spoiler Alert
The Race to Save Meng Jie
This whole mess starts with Xian Biyun. She does some digging. She learns that Meng Jie has been labeled a traitor. It's all because of her father's actions.
Ding Yi hears the news. He owes Meng Jie his life. She saved him multiple times. He decides he's going to get her out, no matter what it takes. Gu Yangshan is also worried sick about her. He sends his own people to investigate.
An Unlikely Alliance
Ding Yi makes his way to Chongqing. He has some of Meng Jie's old medical tools. He uses them as a signal to set up a meeting with Gu Yangshan at a hotel.
Before that meeting, Gu Yangshan pays a visit to a government office. He runs into Luo Han. Luo Han asks about Gu's father's health, all polite and concerned. But Gu Yangshan isn't there for small talk. He pulls out a list. He asks Luo Han why Meng Jie's name is on it. He knows how much she has done for them. Luo Han's excuses are weak. Gu Yangshan looks at the fancy vase on Luo Han's desk. He immediately gets it. They've seized the Meng family's entire fortune.
Later, Gu Yangshan arrives at the hotel. He sees Ding Yi. They haven't seen each other in five years. They just hug. Ding Yi hands him a wedding invitation. But he makes it clear. They have to save Meng Jie before any wedding. Gu Yangshan is on the same page.
A Desperate Plan
Gu Yangshan explains the situation. The Gu family doesn't have the power it used to. He just hit a wall with Luo Han. He tells Ding Yi about the new game in town. Cao Yuanzhong and Luo Han are framing rich capitalists as traitors. They do it just to steal their assets. It's a greedy, ugly scheme.
But Gu Yangshan has a plan. One of his father's old subordinates works for Cao and Luo. This man is willing to help. He will secretly photograph all the confiscated property. Ding Yi's job is to leak those photos to the press. By morning, the pictures will be all over the city. The public scandal will stop Cao and Luo from executing anyone under military law. For Gu Yangshan, helping Ding Yi now is his way of admitting he should have joined his cause years ago.
The Execution Ground
Things get grim. Meng Jie is dragged to an execution ground. She sees her father, Meng Mingyi, in the line-up. She cries out for him.
Luo Han is there. He's cold as ice. He asks Meng Jie why she didn't think of her own people when she was treating traitors. Then he shoots a Chinese national right in front of her. Just to be cruel.
Meng Jie screams that she never hurt a single Chinese person. She says she even helped Joseph Needham and Xian Biyun. They were both fighting the Japanese. Luo Han just smirks. He says that's even more reason to kill them. Because they're Communists.
Then he does it. He shoots Meng Mingyi. Meng Jie is destroyed. Luo Han raises his gun to shoot her next.
A Last-Second Rescue
Suddenly, Gu Yangshan rushes in. He stands between Luo Han and Meng Jie. He insists on taking her. The two men are locked in a standoff. Just then, Cao Yuanzhong shows up. He has new orders. The execution is stopped. The case is being reopened.
Gu Yangshan gets Meng Jie out of there. Ding Yi is waiting for them outside. But they aren't alone. Someone is hiding in the shadows, taking pictures of the three of them together.
The Aftermath and a New Mission
Luo Han's men took the photos. It confirms their suspicions. Gu Yangshan and Ding Yi planned the whole newspaper leak.
Gu Yangshan brings Meng Jie back to his family's home. He tells Ding Yi he needs to leave the city tonight for his own safety. Ding Yi refuses. He says Xian Biyun is on her way. He pulls out another list. It's full of names of loyal doctors. They have to be rescued too. So, their work in Chongqing is just beginning. Luo Han, of course, already has his men tailing them.
The Cost of a Life
Before Gu Yangshan's father leaves the city, he hands his son a stack of property deeds. Gu Yangshan finally understands. His father bribed several high-ranking officials with these properties. That's the real reason Meng Jie was saved. His father tells him that if he wants to survive in Chongqing, he has to play by their corrupt rules.
Gu Yangshan refuses. He says the Gu family has always served the people, not some political "gang." He thinks it's time to stand up and change things.
A Standoff at the Gu Mansion
Luo Han is convinced the Gu Mansion is a hideout for Communists. He sends his men to search it.
Inside, Xian Biyun has just gotten a traumatized Meng Jie to sleep. She, Gu Yangshan, and Ding Yi decide to take another photo together for old times' sake. Right then, Luo Han's men storm the property.
Gu Yangshan goes out to face them alone. He tells Luo Han he can't just search the Gu Mansion whenever he feels like it. Luo Han lies. He claims he has orders from Chairman Chiang himself. Gu Yangshan demands to see a warrant. To show he's not bluffing, he injures one of Luo Han's soldiers. The tension is thick.
Then, something unexpected happens. The old Gu Commander appears. He tells Luo Han he can search the house. Luo Han uses the opportunity to seize all of the Gu family's private documents and records.
