Chapter Summaries

Zhou Yi pressured Fang Hang to reveal who had forced him to stage his suicide, promising protection for his family but refusing to guarantee his own survival. Fang Hang confessed that Wang Qiong had threatened his family and began detailing her schemes, including a drug-frame-up that he helped cover up.

• Zhou Yi challenged Fang Hang to identify who had ordered him to write a suicide note and kill himself, while Fang Hang initially denied knowing anything.
• Zhou Yi told Fang Hang that police were protecting his family, but refused to promise that Fang Hang would escape punishment or death.
• Zhou Yi reminded Fang Hang of a traffic case from three years earlier, convincing him that hiding the truth would cost him his last chance.
• Fang Hang confessed that Wang Qiong had warned him to return to Qingning and threatened his family at the Richman Nightclub.
• Fang Hang said Wang Qiong had framed Shi Xingqing for drug trafficking after his company won the Tianhe Garden project, and that Fang had ordered officials to fabricate evidence against him.

Fang Hang confessed that Ma Yongru had used his power to cover up a fatal crash caused by his nephew, while Zhou Yi's investigation put Wang Qiong under pressure. Wang Qiong tried to flee abroad but was stopped by police officers in Dongyuan, though she challenged their authority to arrest her there.

• Fang Hang named Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Ma Yongru as the leader who had arranged the cover-up, revealing that the convicted driver was Ma Delong, Ma Yongru's nephew.
• Wang Qiong learned that Zhou Yi was at the Provincial Procuratorate and that Central Discipline Inspection Commission officials were preparing to inspect Dongyuan.
• Wang Qiong received a warning that Fang Hang was at the Provincial Procuratorate and was told to hurry abroad, so she packed and left her villa.
• Wang Qiong's car was blocked by men whom her bodyguards recognized as the abductors of Fang Hang the night before.
• The men showed police identification and moved to take Wang Qiong into custody, but she questioned their authority to arrest her in Dongyuan Province.

Zhou Yi’s plan led to Wang Qiong’s arrest and exposed his maneuver to the Qingning leadership. As the officials gathered to assess the fallout, Wei Quanheng tried to provoke Fu Xueqian by urging Zhou Yi to report to him.

• Scarface told Wang Qiong that the Ministry of Public Security had dispatched his team to assist Dongyuan authorities, but she demanded local police paperwork and signaled Zhang Shan to act.
• The officers drew their guns when Zhang Shan reached under his seat, then ordered Wang Qiong and her bodyguards out of the car.
• Zhang Shan tried to seize Scarface as a hostage, but a young man struck his arm and Scarface kicked him down; Liu Dong surrendered, and Wang Qiong submitted to handcuffs.
• At the Qingning Municipal Party Committee, the officials learned that Fang Hang was at the Provincial Procuratorate and Wang Qiong had been arrested and brought back to the Province.
• Wei Quanheng suggested that Zhou Yi return to report to Fu Xueqian, while Lu Jiefeng suspected Wei was trying to stir up Fu’s resentment and resolved to warn Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi’s investigation in Qingning uncovered evidence implicating Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Ma Yongru, prompting senior officials across Dongyuan and the Central Leadership to respond. As Du Changqing questioned Ma, the investigation began probing his other possible misconduct and ties to Wang Qiong.

• Fu Xueqian told Qingning’s standing committee that Zhou Yi was helping the provincial joint investigation team and entrusted the city’s work to Mayor Lu Jiefeng and the others before leaving for the Provincial Party Committee.
• Zhao Tingguang told Liao Huaimin that Du Changqing would arrive with a Central Special Task Force to investigate Ma Yongru, and urged Liao to prepare Ma for the investigation.
• In Capital City, Gan Liansheng reviewed the reports from Dongyuan and decided he would support Zhou Yi despite the disruption his investigation caused.
• Du Changqing questioned Ma Yongru, who admitted abusing his authority to help his nephew, then was asked about other violations and his relationship with Wang Qiong.

Ma Yongru asked for time before confessing, while Zhou Yi confronted Wang Qiong with evidence of her affair with Ma and her alleged crimes. After Wang Qiong admitted their relationship, Zhou Yi shifted to the detention of Xiang Yicong and Chu Yuzhen, leaving her stunned.

• Ma Yongru concluded that the investigation into him and Wang Qiong had been ordered at the highest level and asked Du Changqing for time to think.
• Du Changqing and Gao Songzhi left Ma Yongru's interrogation room, expecting his hope of rescue by a powerful patron to fail.
• Zhou Yi accused Wang Qiong of intervening for Ma Yongru and framing Shi Xingqing, but she denied the charges and demanded evidence.
• Zhou Yi confronted Wang Qiong about her relationship with Ma Yongru and showed her photographs and evidence of their love letters.
• Wang Qiong admitted that she and Ma Yongru were lovers, insisting that their love was pure.
• Zhou Yi told Wang Qiong that Xiang Yicong and Chu Yuzhen had been placed in criminal detention, leaving her stunned.

Zhou Yi confronted Wang Qiong with evidence of her crimes and warned her that she would face punishment, then met Gao Songzhi and received an update on the investigation. He later cautioned Shao Mingbao and his other former colleagues to stay out of trouble, leaving them to consider the seriousness of his warning.

• Wang Qiong denied knowing Xiang Yicong and Chu Yuzhen, but Zhou Yi presented evidence linking her to their crimes and warned that she would pay for what she had done.
• Zhou Yi met Gao Songzhi, who said Ma Yongru and Wang Qiong would not be able to resist the evidence against them much longer.
• Gao Songzhi passed along Qu Hongying's concern for Zhou Yi and Shu Yue and invited Zhou Yi to meet Secretary Du Changqing.
• Zhou Yi teased Shao Mingbao about acting proud after earning a first-class merit citation, then warned him and the others to avoid ending up in an interrogation room, court, or prison.

Zhou Yi warned his longtime subordinates to keep their integrity as they rose through the ranks, then confronted Shao Mingbao over accepting and returning a cash gift. Shao Mingbao agreed to report himself to the Party organization and left determined to correct his mistake.

• Zhou Yi reminded Cai Xiaobo, Li Linsen, Zhu Jianping, Yu Xiao, Meng Shen, and Shao Mingbao to maintain clear boundaries and avoid corruption.
• Zhou Yi sent the others out and heard Shao Mingbao admit that he had accepted more than a hundred thousand yuan in gift money before returning it a week later.
• Zhou Yi angrily reprimanded Shao Mingbao for accepting the money and warned that returning it had kept him out of greater trouble.
• Zhou Yi ordered Shao Mingbao to report the matter to the Party organization and seek discipline, and Shao Mingbao promised not to repeat the mistake.
• Shao Mingbao left shaken but grateful to Zhou Yi and encouraged himself to get back up and keep going.

Zhou Yi's stern warning to Shao Mingbao led into a wave of anti-corruption investigations that shook Dongyuan Province and reached Capital City. As Qingning's leaders reviewed the fallout and approved a vice-mayor candidate, Fu Xueqian gave Zhou Yi a gift for his newborn son.

• Cai Xiaobo, Zhu Jianping, and the others gloated over Shao Mingbao's dressing-down and planned to give him a shared gift card.
• Wang Guangxiang's former superior rebuked him for helping Wang Qiong, so Wang Guangxiang told Wang Lang to flee abroad; airport officers detained Wang Lang, and the Central Discipline Inspection Commission later took Wang Guangxiang for investigation.
• Ma Yongru and Wang Qiong gave truthful accounts, while a series of Dongyuan officials turned themselves in or came under investigation, and Liao Huaimin left his provincial posts.
• Jian Wanyan read about the widening anti-corruption campaign and considered Zhou Yi's future as the Central Discipline Inspection Commission sought to recruit him.
• Fu Xueqian and Zhou Yi addressed anti-corruption work at a Qingning Municipal Party Committee meeting, which approved Shang Xinfeng as a vice-mayor candidate.
• Fu Xueqian gave Zhou Yi a gift for his newborn son and insisted that he accept it.

Zhou Yi accepted Fu Xueqian’s gift and discussed his son’s name before Fu reflected on Zhou’s power to supervise Qingning’s officials and wondered who would supervise Zhou. At a leadership meeting, Du Changqing praised Zhou’s questions about oversight of disciplinary officials, and Zhou later feared the attention might bring him more work.

• Zhou Yi accepted Fu Xueqian’s gift and told him that Old Master Jian had named the baby Zhou Weixing.
• Fu Xueqian reflected on Zhou Yi’s influence over Qingning officials and wondered who could supervise Zhou.
• Du Changqing told a leadership meeting that Zhou Yi had asked whether trust could replace supervision, and called for stronger internal oversight of disciplinary officials.
• Secretary Zhou told Zhou Yi that leaders had praised his views, leaving Zhou worried that the attention would bring him more assignments.

Zhou Yi learned he would be seconded to a central inspection group, then reported to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and was assigned to the Fourth Inspection Group in Jiangnan. The group leader, Xiang Chang’an, welcomed him with confidence in his ability.

• Gao Songzhi told Zhou Yi that he had been selected for an inspection group after his work on the Lü Zuhui and Ma Yongru case.
• Zhou Yi told Jian Shuyue about the assignment, and she reassured him that the trip was only temporary.
• In early April 2012, Zhou Yi arranged for Guo Mingjin to oversee the municipal commission and flew to Capital City to report for duty.
• Zhou Yi hoped to join a group inspecting institutions in Capital City but was assigned to the Fourth Inspection Group heading to Jiangnan.
• Xiang Chang’an greeted Zhou Yi and said that with him there, the group could not fail.

Zhou Yi joined the Fourth Inspection Group as it prepared to inspect Jiangnan, while the province’s leaders grew wary of his arrival because of their past conflict. The chapter left Yan Huafeng and Zheng Qisheng unsure whether Zhou Yi’s assignment was deliberate and resolved to proceed cautiously.

• Xiang Chang'an welcomed Zhou Yi, introduced him to the Fourth Inspection Group, and assigned the members their preparation tasks.
• Zhou Yi and the other group members gathered information and drafted an inspection plan, which they submitted to the General Office three days later.
• Yan Huafeng told Jiangnan’s departments to prepare for the Fourth Inspection Group’s arrival.
• Yan Huafeng and Zheng Qisheng learned Zhou Yi was in the group and worried that his assignment signaled hostile intent.

The Fourth Inspection Group began its inspection of Jiangnan Province, prompting provincial officials to face the possibility that their own or their colleagues’ misconduct would be exposed. Zhou Yi reunited with former leaders at the mobilization meeting and was assigned to interview Baiyun Municipal Party Secretary Wen Wan.

• Xiang Chang'an outlined the inspection’s focus on corruption, misconduct, leadership problems, and violations in official appointments, while Yan Huafeng urged Jiangnan’s officials to cooperate.
• After the meeting, Yan Huafeng and Zheng Qisheng warmly greeted Zhou Yi and praised his past service, masking their grievances toward him.
• Zhou Yi spotted Wen Wan and other former leaders in the crowd and resolved to reconnect with them after the inspection.
• The inspection group announced its contact information and methods for gathering information from officials and the public.
• Xiang Chang'an assigned Zhou Yi to interview Wen Wan first.

Zhou Yi interviewed Wen Wan as part of the Inspection Team’s investigation into Jiangnan Province and asked for her views on provincial leaders, including Zhu Changlei. Wen Wan described Zhu’s temper and recounted allegations involving a fatal forced demolition and the detention of a whistleblower and journalist; Zhou Yi then began interviewing Han Jianguo.

• Zhou Yi welcomed Wen Wan and explained that he was conducting an official individual interview.
• Wen Wan praised Yan Huafeng and Zheng Qisheng, describing their leadership styles and priorities.
• Zhou Yi asked Wen Wan about Zhu Changlei, and she described his temper and told him about the disputed demolition deaths and subsequent detentions.
• Zhou Yi ended the half-hour interview and escorted Wen Wan to the elevator.
• Han Jianguo became Zhou Yi’s next interviewee, and the two joked about meeting later with Zong and Ye Feng.

Zhou Yi investigated the conflicting accounts of Jiangnan’s leaders and focused on Deputy Secretary Zhu Changlei’s role in violent demolition cases and a reporter’s arrest. Xiang Chang'an asked Zhou Yi whether he would meet Zhu himself.

• Zhou Yi asked Han Jianguo about Yan Huafeng, Zheng Qisheng, and Zhu Changlei, learning that the provincial leaders were at odds and Zhu was domineering.
• Zhou Yi connected Zhu to deadly forced demolitions in Ganquan and the cross-provincial arrest of reporter Gong Hua.
• Zhou Yi interviewed Jin Haiyan, Min Shengliang, and Qu Jiaquan, who gave sharply different accounts of Zhu’s conduct and decisions.
• Xiang Chang'an learned that Yan Xuefeng and Zheng Qisheng also disagreed about Zhu, then asked Zhou Yi if he would meet him himself.

Zhou Yi interviewed Jiangnan Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary Zhu Changlei about deaths and arrests tied to a demolition dispute, but found Zhu’s account unconvincing. He began verifying the claims through local sources and called Zhao Qiushui, who revealed she knew Deshun Real Estate’s owner very well.

• Xiang Chang'an assigned Zhou Yi to interview Zhu Changlei about the reported demolition deaths and the arrests of a whistleblower and a reporter.
• Zhu Changlei described the deaths as accidents, called the victims’ families troublemakers, and defended the arrests as necessary to prevent unrest.
• Zhou Yi asked about Deshun Real Estate and reporter Gong Hua, then told Xiang Chang'an that the allegations needed verification.
• Xiang Chang'an left the investigation to Zhou Yi, who called Zhao Qiushui to ask about Deshun Real Estate.
• Zhao Qiushui said she knew Zhu Li well and was plotting to kidnap her and force-feed her Chinese chives.

Zhou Yi investigated two fatal demolition disputes in Donghe District, using his connections to obtain access to the Jiangnan Provincial Public Security Department’s case files. As Zhu Li’s subordinates defended the demolition company’s conduct, she revealed that her real fear was that Zhou Yi would uncover a separate, secret deal.

• Zhou Yi asked Zhao Qiushui to investigate how Shunde Company won the urban village development bid.
• Zhou Yi contacted Fei Zhihong, who connected him with Tang Nan, and learned that the demolition cases had questionable aspects.
• Zhou Yi took Zeng Siming and Lin Zhixuan to the Jiangnan Provincial Public Security Department to review files and question officials about the deaths and subsequent arrests.
• Zhu Li berated Ding Yan, Duan Hongli, and the others for letting the cases reach the Inspection Team.
• Duan Hongli argued that the company was not responsible for the deaths and that the Public Security Department’s handling of the cases had no flaws.
• Zhu Li dismissed his argument and admitted that she feared Zhou Yi would uncover another secret deal.

Zhu Li arranged for Zhao Qiushui to meet Executive Vice Mayor Zhou Shiyuan, while Zhou Yi reviewed two suspicious case files in Jiangnan. The chapter left Zhou Yi questioning why Pi Yijie had killed his six-year-old son along with his wife.

• Ding Yan and Duan Hongli dismissed Zhou Yi’s ability to affect a closed case, while Zhu Li sent them out before answering Zhao Qiushui’s call.
• Zhao Qiushui asked Zhu Li to give Yunshui Group the Listening Waves Ancient Town plot, but Zhu Li refused and arranged a meeting at Bright Lake Mountain Manor with Zhou Shiyuan.
• Zhu Li invited Zhou Shiyuan to meet Zhao Qiushui, and he agreed to move the meeting from noon to evening after learning he had an Inspection Team interview.
• Zhou Yi returned to the Provincial Guesthouse after reviewing the files and focused on Tang Nan’s question about why Pi Yijie had killed his young son as well as his wife.

Zhou Yi and his team identified suspicious details in two cases involving deaths connected to demolition disputes, then he began questioning Ganquan Executive Vice Mayor Zhou Shiyuan about the disputes. The chapter left Zhou Shiyuan worried that Zhou Yi might be using the cases to target someone beyond the demolition matters.

• Zhou Yi explained that Pi Yijie had discovered his child was not biologically his, while Lin Zhi Xuan and Zeng Siming offered theories about why the case file omitted that detail.
• Zhou Yi outlined suspicious coincidences surrounding five deaths in a building collapse and the arrested Jixing Express reporter who had earlier insisted his articles were true.
• Zeng Siming and Lin Zhi Xuan recognized that both cases warranted scrutiny, and Zhou Yi decided to report them to Team Leader Xiang before taking further action.
• Zhou Shiyuan met Zhou Yi at the Provincial Guesthouse and answered his questions about Ganquan's leadership in polished, general terms.
• Zhou Yi asked Zhou Shiyuan about his oversight of planning and construction and the recent demolition disputes, leaving the vice mayor concerned about Zhou Yi's intentions.

Zhou Yi questioned Vice Mayor Zhou Shiyuan about Deshun’s Urban Village redevelopment bid, making Shiyuan worry that the Inspection Team was closing in on him. Shiyuan warned Zhu Li and declined her dinner invitation, but arranged to dine with friends at Bright Lake Mountain Manor, where he hoped to see Zhao Qiushui.

• Zhou Yi asked Zhou Shiyuan about the demolition deaths, Deshun’s owner Zhu Li, and allegations that Deshun rigged the Urban Village redevelopment bid.
• Zhou Shiyuan avoided making accusations and offered to provide the tender records, while Zhou Yi requested that the heads of the Urban Investment Group and the bidding agency meet with the Inspection Team.
• After returning to his office, Zhou Shiyuan called Zhu Li and warned her that Zhou Yi was targeting her and the bid.
• Zhu Li assured Zhou Shiyuan that the bid’s loose ends had been dealt with and asked whether he would attend her dinner.
• Zhou Shiyuan declined Zhu Li’s dinner but said he had arranged to dine with friends at Bright Lake Mountain Manor, hoping to see Zhao Qiushui.

Zhao Qiushui met Zhu Li to seek a plot of land, and Zhu Li revealed that Vice Mayor Zhou Shiyuan was obstructing Yunshui Group because Zhao had rebuffed him. Zhou Shiyuan then met Zhao privately and demanded an equivalent price for the land, leaving her with a recording of his declaration that power controlled fairness.

• Zhao Qiushui asked Zhu Li to give Yunshui Group the plot of land, and Zhu explained that Zhou Shiyuan’s anger toward Zhao was behind Deshun’s competition with her company.
• Zhu Li advised Zhao to approach Zhou Shiyuan and apologize if she wanted official support in Ganquan City.
• Zhu Li arranged for Zhou Shiyuan and Chang Yuzhong to join the dinner, then she and Chang left them alone together.
• Zhao apologized to Zhou and asked him not to hold her earlier discourtesy against her.
• Zhou told Zhao that winning the plot required paying an equivalent price and declared that power controlled fairness, while Zhao planned to give his recorded words to Zhou Yi.