Episode Summary
Shen Yihe and Jia Yunwu frame Zhang Qingyu to close the leak investigation. In a disturbing plot, Shen Yihe's wife An Ping helps him drug her sister An Mi, leading to a struggle where An Ping is critically injured. Lu Shufen asserts her authority as the new leader of the Deqing Society through a brutal public punishment. Meanwhile, the communists begin a new phase of their plan, increasing propaganda and efforts to turn KMT officials, which heightens tensions in the city.
Spoiler Alert
The Set-Up
A Convenient Scapegoat
Shen Yihe needs the leak investigation closed. He calls in Li Heng for a little chat. He tells Li Heng to solve the case fast. If he does, a promotion to deputy director is on the table. It's a pretty sweet deal.
At the same time, Jia Yunwu has Zhang Qingyu in custody. He handles the interrogation himself. Jia shows him the evidence. Zhang Qingyu admits he was having an affair. But he denies everything else. He insists he was framed. Jia Yunwu doesn't care. He needs to protect himself. So he throws all the blame onto Zhang Qingyu. The charge of being a communist spy sticks.
Later, Jia Yunwu talks to Li Heng. He admits he was suspicious of Li Heng for a while. But now he says it's clear Zhang Qingyu was the real problem. It’s all very convenient.
A Promise and a Warning
Shen Yihe gets the final report from Jia Yunwu and Li Heng. He's happy with the result. He tells them they need to work together more closely from now on.
Li Heng goes back to his office. He finds An Mi. He tells her the intelligence leak is handled. She can finally relax a little. He then asks her why she became a double agent. She just says she never had a choice. Li Heng understands. He promises he'll help her get out of this situation. He wants her to be free.
A Family Dinner from Hell
The Trap
Shen Yihe gets a call from his wife, An Ping. She feels terrible that she can't have children for him. She has a truly twisted idea to make it up to him. She plans a special dinner at their home. Her goal is to help him get with her own sister, An Mi.
That night, An Mi shows up. She has no idea what's coming. She drinks some wine that An Ping drugged. She passes out pretty quickly. Shen Yihe carries her to a room. He is about to assault her.
The Fall
Suddenly, An Ping has a conscience. She bursts into the room to stop her husband. They argue. He shoves her during the struggle. She stumbles backward and falls out of the building. It’s a horrifying moment.
They rush An Ping to the hospital. The doctors save her life for now. But the news is bad. She is already terminally ill. She doesn't have much time left.
When An Ping wakes up, An Mi is by her bed. An Ping cries. She confesses what she did. But then she ruins it. She keeps insisting Shen Yihe isn't a bad person. An Mi is just completely heartbroken and disgusted.
The New Boss
A Public Punishment
The next morning, Li Heng hears the sound of a whip cracking. He follows the noise. He finds Lu Shufen punishing a senior gang member named Ma San.
She explains what happened. Qingtian told her that Ma San's wages were late. So he trashed the shop owner's store. He also broke the owner's son's leg. Ma San thinks he's untouchable because of his long service. He refuses to admit he did anything wrong. Lu Shufen sees he has no remorse. She ignores Li Heng's attempt to intervene. She whips Ma San herself. She only stops when the shop owner arrives and begs her to. She then orders Ma San to be taken for medical treatment.
Laying Down the Law
After everyone leaves, Lu Shufen talks to Li Heng. She tells him if he has a problem with her methods, he can talk to her in private. But he cannot challenge her in front of everyone. She says she isn't a little girl who needs protection anymore. She is the leader of the Deqing Society. She has to enforce both old and new rules to keep respect.
Later, Li Heng goes with her to visit Ma San in the hospital. He watches her mix authority with compassion. He's genuinely impressed. Lu Shufen has also been feeling sick lately. Jia Yunying gives her a check-up and says it's nothing serious. She tells Li Heng to take good care of Lu Shufen, who immediately praises him.
The Bigger Picture
New Orders and New Tensions
Yu Tong gives Li Heng his next mission. They need to focus on turning Kuomintang generals to their side. They also have to prepare for the KMT's scorched-earth tactics as they retreat. After meeting Li Heng, Yu Tong secretly meets with Wang Mou. He's the vice president of the Xinmin Daily. He gives him the same instructions.
Communist propaganda is spreading through the city. Jia Zhong reads about it in the papers. He calls an urgent meeting with Wu Shiren. They are both worried about the future of the Sichuan Army. They want to discuss a peaceful liberation.
The propaganda makes Lü Wenlu furious. He orders Tang Meng to find and shut down the underground printing press. The whole situation is getting much more intense.
