Episode Summary
Mao Renfeng traps Wu Shi and Nie Xi at the ministry, launching a full investigation. Wu Shi remains calm and easily outwits his first interrogator, Gu Zhengwen. Nie Xi manages to send a coded message to their families, who fend off an illegal search of Wu's home. A secret ally, Duan Tuizhi, warns Wu Shi that his fingerprints were found on a key file, leading Wu Shi to realize the evidence was planted by swapping file covers. The episode ends with a desperate agent breaking into Wu Shi's study at night.
Spoiler Alert
The Walls Close In
Mao Renfeng Makes His Move
The episode kicks off with Mao Renfeng going for the jugular. He runs straight to Chiang Ching-kuo. He says he has concrete evidence that Wu Shi is a spy. He wants permission to drag Wu Shi to the Secrecy Bureau for a full investigation.
But Zhou Zhirou, Wu Shi's direct superior, slams on the brakes. He doesn't want this mess on his hands. He reminds everyone that Chiang Kai-shek himself appointed Wu Shi to his post. Zhou suggests a compromise. The Second Bureau and the Secrecy Bureau can question Wu Shi together. If they confirm he's a spy, then they can decide what to do. After some thought, Chiang Ching-kuo agrees. The trap is officially set.
Trapped in the Ministry
Back at the Ministry of Defense, Nie Xi gets a bad feeling. He notices the building is empty. Everyone else who was detained has been sent home. Only he and Wu Shi remain.
Wu Shi, however, is completely calm. He points out that they only analyzed the "Sea Eagle" plan. They never actually touched the physical documents. Still, he worries the Secrecy Bureau will toss his house looking for anything they can use. Nie Xi tries to call Wu Shi's residence. The line is dead. They're cut off.
The Interrogations Begin
A Bug in the Office
Mao Renfeng wants to install listening devices in Wu Shi's office. He uses Chiang Ching-kuo's authority to pressure Zhou Zhirou, who has no choice but to agree. To buy the agents time, Zhou calls Wu Shi into his office for a "talk." He offers Wu Shi tea and tries to stall. Wu Shi sees right through it but plays along. He's ready to cooperate, confident the truth will come out.
Wu Shi Faces His Accuser
Once Wu Shi returns to his office, Gu Zhengwen is waiting for him. The interrogation starts. Wu Shi immediately asks where they hid the bugs. He tells Gu to send Mao Renfeng to talk to him directly. Gu insists he's just following orders.
Wu Shi then turns the tables. He brings up Gu's past. He suggests Gu might have become a traitor when he was captured by the Japanese. Gu is stunned into silence. He finally gathers himself and accuses Wu Shi of stealing the "Sea Eagle" plan. He claims Nie Xi already confessed. That's a huge mistake. Wu Shi pulls out his pistol and demands to see the evidence. Gu is terrified and quickly leaves the room. Wu Shi knows Mao Renfeng is listening to the whole thing. He doesn't care.
A Network of Support
Nie Xi Sends a Message
Yu Xiaonan takes Nie Xi to the Secrecy Bureau for his own interrogation. He tries to break him with a lie. He claims Wu Shi has already confessed to everything. Nie Xi knows it's a bluff and demands proof.
Gu Zhengwen, fuming from his failure with Wu Shi, wants to raid Wu's home. Duan Tuizhi stops him. They don't have a warrant. If they search the house and find nothing, Wu Shi will make them pay. Mao agrees and tells Gu to find real evidence first.
Nie Xi then makes a clever move. He pretends he's ready to turn on Wu Shi. He asks Yu Xiaonan to take him to the archives room. Once inside, he loudly asks Li Qing to pass on a message. He tells her to ask Gao Xiumei and Wang Bikui to bring him and Wu Shi a change of clothes. It's a coded signal that they're in trouble. Li Qing understands and makes the call.
The Wives Fight Back
Gao Xiumei gets the message and rushes to Wu Shi's residence. She finds Wang Bikui waiting by the door, unable to reach her husband. Gao explains that Wu Shi and Nie Xi have been framed.
Just then, Gu Zhengwen and Yu Xiaonan arrive. They try to force their way inside, claiming they need to retrieve a file for Wu Shi. Wang Bikui stands her ground. She refuses to let them in. Gao Xiumei joins in, shouting at them. When Wu Xuecheng and A Dou show up, they also help drive the agents away. Without a warrant, Gu can't do anything. He leaves in defeat.
A Secret Ally and a Desperate Search
The Truth on a Piece of Paper
Duan Tuizhi arrives to formally question Wu Shi as part of the official investigation team. Mao Renfeng and Gu Zhengwen are listening in via the bugs. Publicly, Duan advises Wu Shi to cooperate. They make small talk about tea for the benefit of the listeners.
Privately, Duan passes Wu Shi a written note. The note explains the Secrecy Bureau's "evidence." They found Wu Shi's and Nie Xi's fingerprints on the "Sea Eagle" plan documents. Wu Shi immediately understands what happened. Someone swapped the cover of the "Sea Eagle" folder with another one. He gets a message back to Duan. He tells him to have Nie Xi check the fingerprints on the folder for the extradition of Huang Jie's army corps. Duan understands and immediately sends a trusted man to investigate.
A Late-Night Intruder
That night, Wang Bikui can't sleep. She's too worried about her husband. Her fears are justified. Yu Xiaonan, growing desperate, breaks into their home. He sneaks into Wu Shi's study and starts frantically searching for evidence.
A servant named Xiao Qian catches him in the act. Yu threatens him, but Xiao Qian refuses to back down. Yu is forced to leave empty-handed. Wang Bikui hears the commotion and rushes to the window. She only catches a glimpse of the intruder's back as he flees into the night.
