Episode Summary
In this episode, Ding Yi and his group escape the Gu residence thanks to a clever plan by Gu Yangshan. Gu Yangshan officially joins the communist party but is immediately blackmailed into accepting a commission from the Kuomintang. After a time jump of several years, we see that Gu Yangshan has been held under house arrest, Ding Yi receives a coded message, and Luo Han is still obsessed with his old enemies.
Spoiler Alert
The Great Escape
A Desperate Search
So, they finally got Meng Jie out of prison. But she's a wreck. The poor woman is completely traumatized and just keeps repeating that she's not a traitor. It's rough to watch.
While she's recovering, we get a moment with Commander Gu. He finally explains why he's been so reluctant to get back in the fight. Years ago, his wife was killed leading a student protest against the civil war. The worst part? He planned that protest. He's never forgiven himself. Now he feels old and tired of the conflict. He just wants his son, Gu Yangshan, to have a good, safe life.
That's not going to be easy, though. Luo Han is obsessed with finding Ding Yi. He decides he's going to search every single property the Gu family owns. He's not leaving any stone unturned.
A Cellar and a Police Car
Luo Han shows up at the Gu residence to start his search. Then Gu Yangshan does something really strange. He apologizes to Luo Han. This completely spooks Luo Han. He clearly doesn't know what to make of it and just hurries his men out of there.
It turns out Ding Yi, Meng Jie, and the others were hiding right under their noses. They were all stashed away in a cellar. The search party missed them completely.
With the immediate danger gone, Gu Yangshan sets up a real escape plan. Ding Yi asks him to come with them. He says it's his turn to protect Gu Yangshan. It's a nice callback to five years ago when Gu Yangshan saved his life. He really wants them to be partners again.
That night, the plan goes into motion. Gu Yangshan has some police friends create a distraction. They deliberately pick a fight with the guards outside the residence. While everyone is distracted, Gu Yangshan sneaks Ding Yi's group into a police car. They drive away without anyone noticing.
A New Recruit and a Forced Hand
Joining the Party
The next day, Gu Yangshan goes to the meeting point. He expects to see Ding Yi. Instead, he's greeted by Old Owl. Gu Yangshan formally asks to be given a mission.
Old Owl is grateful. He tells Gu Yangshan that his diversions saved several underground party members. Then he delivers some great news. The organization has officially accepted him as a party member. They've even arranged for his father, Commander Gu, to travel to Yan'an for study. It's a huge win.
An Offer You Can't Refuse
On the other side of town, things are messy. Cao Yuanzhong gets an order from his superiors. He has to stop the search on the Gu residence. Luo Han, of course, refuses to back down. He's determined to pin something on the family.
Cao Yuanzhong tries to talk some sense into him. He warns Luo Han that his past actions in Shanghai have already been reported. Luo Han doesn't care. He says he'll resign if he has to, so Cao Yuanzhong won't get dragged down with him.
Back at the house, Gu Yangshan is packing his things. He's looking at the family home, about to leave for good. Just then, Cao Yuanzhong rushes in with an official commission. The Kuomintang wants Gu Yangshan to work for them. Gu Yangshan tries to get out of it. He lies and says he has to take his father abroad for medical treatment. But they planned for that. They've taken the family's servants hostage. Gu Yangshan has no choice but to accept the position.
Years Later
Letters and Ciphers
Then we jump forward a few years. It looks like four or five years have passed.
Ding Yi and Xian Biyun are working in different places now. They stay in touch by writing letters. It's actually pretty sweet. In every letter, they draw a smiley face and press a flower petal into the paper. It's their way of feeling close. An urgent report arrives for Ding Yi. He opens it and sees it's written in the Joseph Needham cipher.
Meanwhile, Luo Han is getting chewed out by Cao Yuanzhong. Luo Han has stopped using the Needham cipher. He says the last three times they used it, their operations failed. He's not taking that risk again.
A Ghost from the Past
Luo Han is still completely fixated on the past. He still suspects Gu Yangshan is a communist, even after all this time. Gu Yangshan has been under house arrest in the middle of nowhere for years. But Luo Han won't let it go. He's also still obsessed with catching Ding Yi.
As they are arguing, the door opens. Gu Yangshan walks in. He looks absolutely terrible. He's so worn down and haggard that for a second, Cao Yuanzhong doesn't even recognize him.
