Episode Summary
This episode was heavy. Gao Xiumei's personal heartbreak sets a somber tone. The communist leadership on Taiwan implodes as Cai Xiaoqian's corruption and incompetence are exposed. The main event is the tragic end for Zhu Feng. She is cornered in Zhoushan and ultimately captured after Li Qing stages a brilliant and brutal betrayal, killing two agents and shooting herself to frame Zhu Feng. After her capture, Zhu Feng takes her own life.
Spoiler Alert
A New Year's Full of Tears
Let's start with some family drama. Gao Xiumei just wants to reunite with her daughter in Fuzhou. It’s a simple wish. She hears the liaison department can issue a special pass to make it happen. So, she goes to Nie Xi for help.
Nie Xi flat-out refuses to help her. He doesn't just say no. He also lies and hides that he was just transferred to that exact department. You can feel the betrayal. Gao Xiumei gets furious, and she has every right to be.
Wu Shi quickly steps in to do damage control. He explains the real reason for Nie Xi's refusal. Nie Xi is afraid of getting Wu Shi into political trouble. It’s a complicated mess. Wu Shi apologizes to Gao Xiumei for the whole situation. She just breaks down crying. It’s a tough scene to watch. Wang Bikui awkwardly tries to change the subject. Gao Xiumei then wishes everyone a happy new year through her tears. The whole encounter leaves Wu Shi feeling terrible.
The Hunt for Zhu Feng Begins
While that personal drama unfolds, Gu Zhengwen is getting down to business. He gathers his agents from the Secrecy Bureau. They all board a military plane headed for Zhoushan. Their one and only target is Zhu Feng.
Gu Zhengwen makes sure to bring Li Qing along. He passes around photos of Zhu Feng. He wants every agent to know her face. The hunt is officially on.
Trouble in the Mountains
The communist cell on Taiwan is having some serious internal problems. The leadership is basically at war with itself.
A Leadership Meltdown
Cai Xiaoqian is hiding out in the mountains. He has his young girlfriend, Ajuan, with him. We learn that his earlier screw-up led to Chen Zemin's arrest. This forced Zhang Zhizhong to move the entire operation into the mountains for safety.
Zhang is not happy about it. He confronts Cai Xiaoqian head-on. He criticizes his failures and threatens to report him to their superiors. Cai gets incredibly defensive. He blames another comrade, Lin Yiliang. He even accuses Chen Zemin, the man who was just tortured for the cause, of being a traitor.
Zhang has also heard rumors about Cai's new lifestyle. He knows Cai has been spending money at fancy restaurants with Ajuan. Zhang gets so angry that he actually tries to shoot Cai. Other comrades have to jump in and pull them apart. Zhang is completely disappointed in the man Cai has become.
An Unexpected Pregnancy
While all this is happening, Ajuan is miserable. She hates the rough life in the mountains. She is used to comfort and complains constantly. Cai tries to soothe her with promises of a better life after the "liberation."
Then, Ajuan starts getting sick. She can't keep food down and feels nauseous. Cai puts two and two together. He realizes she is pregnant. He is overjoyed by the news. Ajuan just wants them to get married soon.
The Walls Close In
Zhu Feng is running out of time and options. Her situation in Zhoushan goes from bad to worse.
A Close Call at the Hospital
Zhu Feng's escape plan falls apart. The boatman she hired to take her to Daxie Island gets arrested. She is now stranded in a heavy downpour with nowhere to go. She decides to find an old contact, Gu Sunmou, at the local hospital. On her way there, she sees government agents arresting people right on the street.
Gu Sunmou tells her to hide at his house. She refuses. She doesn't want to put his family in danger. So, he finds her another place to hide for the time being. This turns out to be a smart move.
Gu Zhengwen's team quickly connects Zhu Feng to Gu Sunmou. They raid Gu's house but find nothing. Their next stop is the hospital. Gu Sunmou lies to their faces. He claims Zhu Feng already went to the pier and he hasn't seen her since. Gu Zhengwen doesn't believe a word of it. He orders his men to search every inch of the hospital.
A Desperate Escape and a Final Sacrifice
Gu Sunmou had hidden Zhu Feng inside the hospital. From a window, she watches the agents swarm the building. She disguises herself as a nurse and tries to slip out unnoticed.
This is where everything goes sideways. Li Qing spots her. But instead of raising the alarm, Li Qing helps her. She guides Zhu Feng toward a back exit. Just as they're about to escape, they run into two agents. The agents recognize Zhu Feng instantly. Li Qing has no other choice. She shoots and kills both of them.
Gu Zhengwen hears the gunshots and rushes toward the sound. In a shocking move, Li Qing shoots herself in the chest. She's wounded but alive. She tells Zhu Feng to run for the mountains. Zhu Feng knows it's over. She gives Li Qing a pocket watch and a roll of microfilm. She begs Li Qing to get the intelligence out.
Zhu Feng then tries to kill herself, but the gun is out of bullets. Li Qing stops her. Just then, Gu Zhengwen and his men arrive. They see what looks like Li Qing struggling with and capturing Zhu Feng. Gu Zhengwen orders his men to arrest Zhu Feng. Li Qing can only watch in agony as they take her away.
Later, Gu Zhengwen praises Li Qing for her "heroic" actions. Zhu Feng is taken to a military prison. She tries multiple times to end her own life, but the guards stop her. In a final, desperate act, she swallows all of her gold and silver jewelry.
