Episode Summary

A patriotic play becomes a political flashpoint, forcing Zhou Enlai to use the press to overturn a government ban. As the war intensifies, Xia Yan and other writers are targeted for assassination, leading to a tense escape from Hong Kong. Fake news of their deaths causes widespread grief and a major fight between Tian Han and An E, who is forced to keep their survival a secret. The episode ends with an emotional reunion at a train station after An E reveals the truth, and Tian Han apologizes for his behavior.

Spoiler Alert

Art Becomes a Battlefield

A Play They Can't Ban

So, there's this new play called "Qu Yuan." It's written by Guo Moruo. And it is a massive hit. The story is about a patriot who gives everything for his country. You can imagine why that resonates right now. The audience goes wild on opening night. The applause just doesn't stop. People are deeply moved.

This patriotic wave makes the KMT leadership nervous. They immediately send out an order to ban the play. But they didn't count on Zhou Enlai. An E gets the news to him fast. He decides to fight back with the press. He tells reporters to publicize the play's success. He wants them to focus on its patriotic spirit. The strategy works. Public opinion becomes so strong that the KMT has to back down. They cancel the ban.

A Daring Escape and Fake News

Getting Out of Hong Kong

Things get really bad after the Japanese take Guangdong. Students are protesting on the streets. The Japanese army just opens fire on them with machine guns. It's a massacre.

The situation is also critical for a group of writers in Hong Kong. Xia Yan and his friends are now on an assassination list. Zhou Enlai knows they have to get them out. He personally organizes a rescue mission. He tells Liao Chengzhi to get a team together. Their job is to get Xia Yan out of Hong Kong immediately.

Xia Yan and Liu Yazi put on disguises. They sneak onto a boat under the cover of darkness. The boat gets out onto the river. Everything seems calm. Then a Japanese inspection ship appears out of nowhere. It's heading right for them. They're about to be searched. Everyone on board is terrified.

The News Breaks

The next morning, Ren Suning comes banging on An E's door. She's holding a newspaper. The headline is a gut punch. It says Xia Yan and several other progressive writers are dead. The news is a shock to everyone. Ren Suning just breaks down crying. She remembers all her moments with Xia Yan. He was her teacher. He was brave and talented. And now he's gone.

An E is also heartbroken. But she tries to comfort Ren Suning. She tells her they have to turn their grief into strength.

A Secret Kept, A Friendship Tested

The Memorial Service

Tian Han is devastated. He decides to organize a memorial service for Xia Yan. He wants to honor his friend's memory. Everyone is just walking around under a dark cloud.

Then An E gets a secret message. Xia Yan is alive. She is ecstatic but she can't tell anyone. The information is still classified. The rescue is ongoing. So when Tian Han is planning the memorial, An E suggests he should wait a little longer.

Tian Han does not take this well. He gets angry. He accuses her of being heartless and cold. He can tell she knows something. But she can't break protocol. They have a huge fight over it. Afterward, Tian Han goes to his old friend Hong Shen to complain about An E.

The Truth Comes Out

A little later, An E gets another update. It's confirmed. Xia Yan and the others are on a train. They are heading to Guilin station. She immediately runs to where the memorial service is being held. She bursts in and announces the good news. Everyone is stunned. Hong Shen and the others start crying again, but this time with joy.

The whole group rushes to the train station. They see Xia Yan get off the train. The reunion is incredibly emotional.

Later, Tian Han apologizes to An E. He knows he shouldn't have pushed her about a classified secret. She explains why she had to stay quiet. Xia Yan was still on the escape route. If the news had leaked, it could have ruined everything. Plus, other writers were still waiting to be rescued on the same route. Tian Han understands completely. He admits he wasn't thinking clearly.