Episode Summary
In this episode, Qiu He breaks up with Zhang Yunhu to protect him. Li Heng recruits Qing Tian to spy on Jia Yunwu, who is tasked with arresting a dissident writer. The writer is captured before he can escape, sparking public protests. Meanwhile, a secret opium deal is made, and the episode ends with Zhang Yunhu ambushing the convoy carrying the arrested writer.
Spoiler Alert
A Painful Breakup
We start with Qiu He. She gets back to her place and finds Zhang Yunhu waiting for her. You can just feel the tension. She knows she's stuck in Shanghai because of Shen Yihe. She also feels like she's no good for Zhang Yunhu anymore.
So, she does something brutal. She pulls out a stack of cash. She lies and tells him she's found someone else. She says they're done. Zhang Yunhu actually believes her. He heard she spent the night with another man. He gets furious, throws the money into the air, and just walks away. Qiu He holds it together until he's gone. Then she completely breaks down. It was rough to watch.
New Alliances and Secret Deals
Li Heng Gets a Spy
Qing Tian goes to Li Heng with an offer. He wants to help handle underground business. Li Heng is hesitant at first. He doesn't want to get Qing Tian involved. If something happened, he couldn't face Lu Shufen. But Qing Tian convinces him.
The new plan is set. Qing Tian will secretly follow Jia Yunwu. He'll monitor his every move. Li Heng points out that Jia Yunwu has a bad history with the Deqing Society. They need to get some leverage on him in case things go south. He warns Qing Tian to be extremely careful. Jia Yunwu can't know he's being watched.
A Deal Struck in the Shadows
Shen Yihe, limping back to his office, has a new scheme. He wants to use the Deqing Society's channels to transport opium. He meets with their leader, Lu Kaide, and promises a huge payout. Lu Kaide shuts him down flat. He says the Deqing Society is out of that business.
But the story doesn't end there. After the meeting, Lu Kaide's subordinate, Wang Xiaofei, sneaks back. He secretly makes a deal with Shen Yihe. He wants a piece of that profit for himself.
The Hunt for a Writer
Shen Yihe's New Target
While all this is happening, Shen Yihe is also reading the newspaper. He sees an article arguing against the civil war. It was published under the pen name "Fang Zhi." We learn this is actually Huang Ye, the vice-chancellor of Huaxi University. Shen Yihe immediately orders Jia Yunwu to arrest him. He wants to make an example out of him.
A Failed Rescue
Our guys get wind of the arrest order. Yu Tong tells Jia Yunying to take over for Chen Miao. Her job is to get Huang Ye out of Shanghai immediately. Jia Yunying meets with Huang Ye and convinces him to leave. He agrees, but on one condition. He needs to contact his student organization first. They set a time to leave. Three in the afternoon.
It was too late. Jia Yunwu moved faster. When Jia Yunying gets to the meeting spot, Huang Ye is already gone. Agents from the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (Central Statistics Bureau) have him. She immediately calls Yu Tong to figure out a new plan. They decide to use the newspapers to create public pressure.
Fallout and Escalation
Public Outcry
The plan works. Jia Zhong, who is Jia Yunwu's father, sees the news about Huang Ye's arrest. He is furious. He writes an article defending Huang Ye. This sparks a massive response. People from all over join in, demanding Huang Ye's release. A huge crowd gathers outside the Central Statistics Bureau office. Jia Zhong and his daughter, Jia Yunying, are right there in the middle of it. Shen Yihe is not happy to see his agent's father in the protest. Li Heng has to step in and smooth things over for Jia Yunwu.
Suspicions and Ambushes
This episode was just one thing after another. Zhang Yunhu tries to assassinate a guy named Zhao Jun. He fails and has to run from the military police. He ends up at Li Heng's place to say goodbye. Li Heng is mad about how reckless he was but gives him money to get out of town. Zhang Yunhu says he'll be hiding out on Longquan Mountain if Li Heng ever needs him.
Later, Jia Yunwu gets a tip. He goes to a private residence and finds a traitor has been murdered. This makes him suspect that Zhang Qingyu is the mole inside his own organization.
The episode ends with a bang. The Central Statistics Bureau convoy is transporting Huang Ye and the other arrested patriots. Suddenly, they are ambushed. The attackers are led by none other than Zhang Yunhu.
