Episode Summary
Shi Ziyang is murdered after getting too close to the truth about a decades-old fire. The corrupt police, led by Superintendent Da, frame a drug addict for the crime. To protect himself, Qin Yu presides over the sham trial and accepts the false confession. Tang Xuan is then framed for drug possession to silence her. An ally trades a secret file for her freedom. Once released, she confronts Qin Yu, accusing him of being part of the cover-up. We also find out Qi Changrong is alive and is holding Sasha prisoner.
Spoiler Alert
A Shocking Death Changes Everything
This whole episode hinged on one event. It was brutal, fast, and changed the entire game.
The Set-Up
Shi Ziyang is getting way too close to the truth about that old fire. He actually found a witness, a guy named Liu Mao. Of course, Superintendent Da finds out. He immediately puts a tail on Shi Ziyang.
Shi Ziyang is sharp, though. He spots the guys following him after he leaves the hospital. He manages to shake them and circle back. But he's too late. Liu Mao is gone. Just vanished.
He knows this is a disaster. He arranges a secret meeting with Tang Xuan. He tells her they have to stop seeing each other for a while. He's worried Da Gama already had Liu Mao killed. But he tells her he has one more lead. There's another witness.
The Hit
He rushes to find the second witness, a man named Lu Biao. Just as Shi Ziyang pulls up, a woman is walking out of the building. She just killed Lu Biao. Shi Ziyang has no idea. He just sees her stumbling down the street. He gets out of his car to check if she's okay.
That was his final mistake. She stabs him.
Tang Xuan gets that awful feeling in her gut. She calls his phone. He dies right there on the pavement, holding his phone while it rings. I'm still processing this. It was just so sudden.
The Cover-Up Machine Kicks In
What happens next is a masterclass in corruption. The whole system just snaps into place to bury the truth.
A Convenient Suspect
Tang Xuan gets to the morgue. She sees Shi Ziyang. His spleen was injured, and he bled out in less than a minute. She is filled with a cold rage. She goes straight to the crime scene and actually grabs a sketchy-looking guy herself.
The police take it from there. And they cook up a story fast. They pin it all on the guy Tang Xuan found. They claim he's a drug addict who was high. They say he got into a random argument with Shi Ziyang and accidentally killed him. His prints are on the knife. The blood matches. It's a perfect, clean story. Tang Xuan knows it's a lie. It's way too convenient.
Qin Yu's Compromise
The case is assigned to Qin Yu. The official report is pure fiction. It says the addict not only confessed to accidentally killing Shi Ziyang, but also to murdering Han Gang in the church. This is a golden opportunity for Qin Yu. It clears him of the Han Gang murder.
So, in court, the suspect gives a terrible, obviously rehearsed confession. Qin Yu has to go along with it. He sentences the guy to twelve years for manslaughter. He does it to save his own skin. Right after, Councilor Huang quietly slips Qin Yu a piece of paper. It's a draft from Tang Xuan's private investigation into Qin Yu. They're letting him know they have dirt on him, too.
Tang Xuan Fights Back
She is not taking this lying down. Her husband was just murdered and she's being surrounded by liars.
Framed and Freed
Da Gama gives this sickeningly heartfelt speech to the media. Tang Xuan watches, disgusted. She is 100% sure he ordered the hit on Shi Ziyang. Her boss tells her to be careful. Then it gets worse. The police search Shi Ziyang's home and "find" drugs in Tang Xuan's bag. They arrest her. The frame-up is flawless. They even have a fake audio recording to seal the deal. She has no way out.
But help comes from an unexpected place. Hu Jian crashes Da Gama's celebration party. He says he has a secret file that Shi Ziyang left behind. He'll trade the file for Tang Xuan's freedom. The deal works.
Tang Xuan is released. She goes home and finds her apartment has been torn apart. They were looking for the file. The grief finally hits her full force. She remembers Shi Ziyang singing and cooking for her. She just collapses, holding his guitar, and cries.
The Confrontation
Tang Xuan learns the case is officially closed. She goes directly to Qin Yu. She doesn't hold back. She reminds him he has a photographic memory. So why, when Shi Ziyang asked him about the old fire, did he suddenly forget everything? She looks him in the eye and accuses him of hiding something.
Meanwhile, On A Desert Island...
With all the chaos, it's easy to forget about this whole other plotline. Qin Yu helps Sasha and her son escape the city. He gives her money. He even gets on his knees and begs her to forgive him for what happened to Ah Wei.
But their escape fails. From the boat, Sasha sees a ghost. It's Qi Changrong. He's alive. He was wearing a bulletproof vest. And now he's holding her captive on some deserted island. We also learn he turned down a big redevelopment deal from Councilor Huang. He says he won't betray the old district. So, the dead guy is alive, and he's making moves.
