Chapter Summaries

Zhao Qiushui outmaneuvered Zhou Shiyuan after he tried to use his influence over a land deal to pressure her into spending the night with him. She left with evidence of his conduct and sent Qiu Guoguo to deliver it to Secretary Zhou, while Zhou Shiyuan vowed to retaliate.

• Zhao Qiushui recalled how officials used power and money, then warned Zhou Shiyuan that power needed restraint.
• Zhou Shiyuan offered to discuss the Listening Waves Ancient Town land deal in private and expected Zhao Qiushui to come to his room.
• Zhu Li told Zhou Shiyuan that Zhao Qiushui had left for Changtian, leaving him furious at the apparent snub.
• Zhao Qiushui removed a hidden camera from her Rose Brooch and instructed Qiu Guoguo to deliver its footage to Secretary Zhou.
• Qiu Guoguo explained that she had resigned and returned to work for Zhao Qiushui, who encouraged her to meet Chen Zhong in person.

Zhao Qiushui’s evidence against Zhou Shiyuan reached Zhou Yi, prompting the Inspection Team to consider how to handle the allegations. The chapter left Yan Huafeng visiting Xiang Chang’an to apologize for Zhou Shiyuan’s misconduct, especially because he had targeted Zhao Qiushui, who was connected to Zhou Yi and other influential figures.

• Qiu Guoguo delivered Zhao Qiushui’s USB drive to Chen Zhong, who passed it to Zhou Yi and then took time off to drink with her.
• After watching Zhao Qiushui’s video, Zhou Yi called to thank her and reprimand her for putting herself at risk; she happily promised not to do it again.
• Zhou Yi reported allegations of abuse of power, bribery, and coercion by Ganquan City Executive Vice Mayor Zhou Shiyuan to Xiang Chang’an and Lu Yan.
• Xiang Chang’an asked Zhou Yi how to proceed, but Zhou Yi deferred to him; Xiang Chang’an and Lu Yan then discussed their options.
• Yan Huafeng visited Xiang Chang’an and apologized for Zhou Shiyuan’s conduct after learning that he had targeted Zhao Qiushui, a friend of Zhou Yi, Shan Wenxu, and Sima Yanan.

The Inspection Team pressed Jiangnan officials to investigate Zhou Shiyuan and review allegations against Zhu Changlei, while Yan Huafeng agreed to act on both matters. Zhu Changlei was kept out of the demolition-case investigations, leaving Jin Haiyan worried about his own future if Zhu fell.

• Xiang Chang'an told Yan Huafeng that the Provincial Party Committee needed to investigate Zhou Shiyuan and report its findings to the Inspection Team promptly.
• Xiang Chang'an relayed Zhou Yi's suggestion to verify the facts behind two fatal demolition cases before deciding how to proceed, and Yan Huafeng agreed to investigate them alongside Deshun Real Estate Company.
• Yan Huafeng directed Qu Jiaquan to return the two demolition cases to the Provincial Public Security Department for supplementary investigation.
• Tang Nan assigned Meng Yang to lead the supplementary investigations after receiving instructions from Liu Libin.
• Yan Huafeng told Zhu Changlei that he had prevented a recommendation to suspend all his duties but that he should stay out of the investigation.
• Jin Haiyan resented being bypassed and wondered whether he needed to find another backer if Zhu Changlei could no longer protect him.

Gao Lian investigated Zhou Shiyuan over his dealings with Zhao Qiushui, but Zhou received a secret note urging him to hold on and decided to resist. Meanwhile, Tang Nan considered his prospects as a new investigation connected Pi Yijie's wife to Wen Mosheng.

• Gao Lian questioned Zhou Shiyuan about his conduct toward Zhao Qiushui and his dealings with Zhu Li, but Zhou denied serious misconduct and signed the interview record.
• A staff member secretly slipped Zhou Shiyuan a note reading “Hold on!”, giving him hope that his connections would help him.
• Tang Nan saw the investigation as an opportunity to advance his career and considered how Zhu Changlei and Jin Haiyan might be implicated.
• Meng Yang told Tang Nan that Pi Yijie's wife, He Sijie, had been having an affair with Wen Mosheng, and Tang Nan reacted with alarm.

Tang Nan confirmed that Wen Mosheng had carried on a seven-year affair with He Sijie and fathered the boy who died in the fire, then reported the findings to Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi planned to inform the Provincial Party Committee through public reports and recognized Wen’s ties to Publicity Department head Ou Qingwen as a way to expose broader misconduct.

• Meng Yang reported that He Sijie had been involved with Wen Mosheng for seven years and that the dead boy was their child, with chat logs and hotel footage supporting the findings.
• Tang Nan called Zhou Yi and asked how to handle the case; Zhou told him to report through normal channels and said he would contact the Provincial Party Committee using information from the public.
• Zhou Yi reviewed reports submitted to the Inspection Team and dismissed a claim that Ou Qingwen kept three mistresses, noting that Ou had at least six.
• Zhou Yi connected Wen Mosheng and Ou Qingwen through their close personal and professional relationship and noted that Ou had helped suppress the case involving Wen.
• Zhou Yi resolved to expose Wen Mosheng’s misconduct and prevent it from tainting Jiangnan.

Zhou Yi pressed Jiangnan officials for answers about Pi Yijie's case while turning his attention to writer Wen Mosheng, prompting provincial leaders and Wen's allies to fear a scandal. The chapter ended with an anonymous letter accusing Zhou Yi of misconduct arriving at the Inspection Work Leading Group General Office.

• Zhou Yi asked Xiang Chang'an for instructions, then requested that Liu Libin have the public security authorities explain everyone involved in Pi Yijie's wife-murder and arson case.
• Liu Libin reported Zhou Yi's request to Zheng Qisheng, who worried that the investigation could expose Wen Mosheng and further damage Jiangnan Province.
• Ou Qingwen met Wen Mosheng at a hotel, where Wen cursed Zhou Yi and worried that his secrets would be exposed.
• Ou Qingwen urged Wen Mosheng to stay calm and argued that the province could keep his alleged consensual misconduct internal.
• A few days later, an anonymous letter alleging Zhou Yi's misconduct arrived at the Inspection Work Leading Group General Office.

Jiangnan’s provincial leaders debated how to punish Wen Mosheng without disrupting the Misty Rain Jiangnan gala and how to accelerate the investigation of Zhou Shiyuan. They approved delaying Wen’s disciplinary announcement until after the gala while seeking the Inspection Team’s understanding, and ordered investigators to prioritize Zhou’s case.

• Zhu Changlei demanded severe punishment for Wen Mosheng, while Ou Qingwen urged caution and Cao Cheng opposed letting Wen off to avoid repercussions.
• Liu Libin proposed removing Wen from his cultural posts immediately but delaying the disciplinary announcement until after the Misty Rain Jiangnan gala, and Yan Huafeng and Zheng Qisheng approved.
• Zhao Liangde suggested explaining the circumstances to the Inspection Team and asking Master Dong Qing to intervene, a plan that appealed to Yan Huafeng.
• Yan Huafeng ordered Xu Jianxun to speed up the investigation of Zhou Shiyuan, whose alleged power-for-money dealings remained difficult to prove.
• Zheng Qisheng stressed that investigators should balance efficiency with gathering evidence.

Dong Qing asked the Inspection Team to delay acting against Wen Mosheng until the Misty Rain Jiangnan gala was over, and Xiang Chang'an said they would consider her request. When Xue Chuqing defended Wen Mosheng’s books and challenged Zhou Yi, he quoted passages from them to expose their contrast in how they portrayed China and Japan.

• Dong Qing visited Xiang Chang'an and Zhou Yi with Yao Caizhi and offered to send them a video of her Secret Eight-Section Brocade practice, but they politely declined.
• Dong Qing asked the Inspection Team to postpone action against Wen Mosheng until after the Misty Rain Jiangnan arts gala, and Xiang Chang'an promised to give the suggestion full consideration.
• Yao Caizhi mentioned that Wen Mosheng’s works might be banned, and Xue Chuqing argued that his misconduct should not condemn his books.
• Zhou Yi defended the Provincial Party Committee’s decision, prompting Xue Chuqing to insist that she had a right to question it.
• Zhou Yi quoted two passages from Wen Mosheng’s works about China and Japan and challenged Xue Chuqing to interpret them.

Secretary Zhou Yi challenged Xue Chuqing’s defense of Wen Mosheng, turning her argument about society’s darkness back on her and forcing Jiangnan’s literary leaders to distance themselves from the writer. Xue appeared to accept the rebuke but privately remained defiant and wanted to debate Zhou on equal terms.

• Zhou Yi questioned Xue Chuqing’s defense of Wen Mosheng’s harsh depictions of his homeland and contrasting praise of foreign countries.
• Xue argued that writers had a duty to expose society’s darkness, while Zhou Yi rejected her claim that isolated evils proved darkness was everywhere.
• When Xue said one cockroach meant many more were hidden, Zhou Yi applied the same logic to the literary community and Wen Mosheng.
• Dong Qing urged Xue to apologize, and Yao Caizhi declared that Jiangnan’s literary and artistic community disavowed Wen Mosheng and supported the Provincial Party Committee’s decision.
• Xiang Chang’an warned Xue to speak carefully on fundamental questions, and she outwardly nodded while privately resenting the leaders’ pressure and challenging Zhou to an online debate.

A misconduct complaint against Zhou Yi reached the Inspection Work Leading Group, which ordered an investigation. In Danqing City, Xie Chenglin admitted to his sister that he had helped prompt the complaint, convinced that Zhou Yi had improper relationships and hoping to make trouble for his sworn enemy.

• After Dong Qing, his grandchild, and Yao Caizhi left, Zhou Yi considered how to get Wen Mosheng to report Ou Qingwen before Ou could cover up their connections.
• Du Changqing reviewed a misconduct complaint against Zhou Yi and learned that the Jiangnan Provincial Party Committee Discipline Inspection Commission had forwarded it.
• Du Changqing ordered Cheng Mingju to join Tao Beifang in investigating the allegations.
• Xie Fangfei warned Xie Chenglin that the complaint might be baseless and provoke Zhou Yi's retaliation.
• Xie Chenglin argued that Zhou Yi's supposed relationships with Zhao Qiushui and Wen Wan and his wealth from stock trading were suspicious.
• Xie Chenglin revealed that he had suggested making the complaint and supplied photographs and hearsay because he wanted to trouble Zhou Yi.

Xie Chenglin explained to Xie Zheng why he had helped target Zhou Yi, while Xie Zheng warned him that the Xie Family would bear the consequences. Meanwhile, the Fourth Inspection Group was told to consider suspending Zhou Yi’s duties during an investigation, and Xiang Chang’an stood by him as Zhou Yi acted surprised by the news.

• Xie Chenglin told Xie Zheng that Zhou Yi’s ties to Zhao Qiushui and Wen Wan could expose him, and argued that the photos he provided were genuine.
• Xie Zheng warned Xie Chenglin that his actions affected the whole Xie Family and told him not to act without consulting them again.
• After hanging up, Xie Chenglin returned to his bedroom and resumed an affair, taking precautions to avoid being exposed.
• The Inspection Work Leading Group General Office recommended that Xiang Chang’an suspend Zhou Yi’s duties pending an investigation.
• Xiang Chang’an objected to suspending Zhou Yi and told Deng Chaoqiang he would report that position to the leadership.
• Xiang Chang’an summoned Zhou Yi, who appeared astonished to hear that someone had reported him and that he might be investigated.

Zhou Yi learned that an accusation from Jiangnan Province had triggered an investigation into alleged sexual relationships and bribes involving Zhao Qiushui and Wen Wan. He cooperated with the investigators but vowed to hold the accuser legally accountable, leaving Tao Beifang shaken by what he recognized as a declaration of war.

• Zhou Yi's father-in-law told him about the accusation and trusted him, while Xiang Chang'an assured him that the investigation was routine and said they would demand an explanation afterward.
• The Capital City investigation team arrived in Ganquan and questioned Zhou Yi, with Cheng Mingju and Tao Beifang conducting the interview.
• Zhou Yi explained how he met Zhao Qiushui and said they had become good friends after her criminal case was resolved.
• Tao Beifang asked about alleged improper relationships, group sex, and bribes involving Zhao Qiushui and Wen Wan.
• Zhou Yi denied the allegations, pledged to cooperate with a fair investigation, and vowed to pursue legal action against whoever had smeared him.

Zhou Yi challenged the Investigation Team’s questioning and defended the origins of his assets, then suspected Xie Chenglin of orchestrating the report against him. After calling Shan Wenxu, Zhou Yi learned that Shan would ask his uncle to ensure Zhao Qiushui and Wen Wan were treated properly.

• Zhou Yi accused the Investigation Team of needing to investigate fairly after Cheng Mingju questioned him as though the allegations were true.
• Zhou Yi said his reported income came from stock trading and challenged Tao Beifang’s doubts by comparing his trading success to his record of solving major cases.
• After the questioning ended, Zhou Yi called Shan Wenxu and suggested that an enemy had supplied the allegations to the Jiangnan Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.
• Zhou Yi suspected Xie Chenglin, while also considering that Yan Huafeng and Zheng Qisheng might have helped spread the report.
• Shan Wenxu agreed that Zhao Qiushui and Wen Wan could be targeted and said he would ask his uncle to check the matter and ensure they were treated properly.

Zhao Qiushui faced questioning in Changtian City over alleged favors in government projects, while Yi Xuefang tried to establish that she had romantic feelings for Zhou Yi. After two phone calls, Yi abruptly changed her tone and invited Zhao to stay for lunch.

• Zhou Yi called Sima Yanan, who promised not to let anyone use underhanded means against Zhao Qiushui.
• Yi Xuefang and Li Hua questioned Zhao Qiushui and asked whether she had fallen for Zhou Yi.
• Zhao praised Zhou as an extraordinary man but denied having romantic feelings for him, then rejected Yi's leading questions about seeking government help for projects.
• Zhao said she had won the Longwan District and Shaohua City projects through standard competitive bidding and stood up to leave.
• Yi received two phone calls, then warmly invited Zhao to stay for lunch instead of stopping her from leaving.

Discipline investigators found no evidence against Wen Wan or Zhao Qiushui, but Zhao Qiushui revealed that former Vice Mayor Xie Chenglin had demanded sex in exchange for a project and offered a recording. Meanwhile, Yan Huafeng confronted the fallout from the complaint against Zhou Yi and resolved not to let provincial factions drag him into their fight.

• Yang Hongyong questioned Wen Wan, accepted her answers, and returned to Tao Beifang after verifying the matter.
• Yi Xuefang reported that her team found no problems in Zhao Qiushui’s bidding records and asked whether to investigate the Shaohua project.
• Yi Xuefang revealed that Xie Chenglin had allegedly demanded Zhao Qiushui spend the night with him in exchange for a project.
• Yi Xuefang told Tao Beifang that Zhao Qiushui had a recording of the conversation and could provide it, leaving him unsure whether to request it.
• Yan Huafeng challenged Xu Jianxun over the complaint against Zhou Yi, and Zheng Qisheng argued that the complaint might have come through another channel.
• Yan Huafeng suspected provincial figures were backing the effort against Zhou Yi and vowed not to let them make him take the blame.

Jian Wanyan and Wei Siqi discussed the attempt to smear Zhou Yi as the Fourth Inspection Group exposed serious problems in Jiangnan. As the province faced growing pressure, Xie Chenglin learned Zhou Yi knew he was working against him but remained confident he was beyond Zhou Yi’s reach.

• Jian Wanyan and Wei Siqi dismissed the complaint against Zhou Yi and discussed how officials were prolonging the investigation to damage his reputation.
• Jian Wanyan said Hou Xiangyang had contacted Xiang Chang'an, and that the Fourth Inspection Group would soon report the problems it found in Jiangnan.
• The Fourth Inspection Group's findings implicated Zhou Shiyuan and Wen Mosheng in misconduct and exposed serious failures in the Jiangnan Water Towns demolition and relocation program.
• Xiang Chang'an rebuffed officials seeking his help, while Yan Huafeng ordered investigations into Zhou Shiyuan and Wen Mosheng and warned Xu Jianxun to act before a central task force arrived.
• Xie Chenglin's sister warned him that Zhou Yi knew he was undermining him, but Xie Chenglin believed Zhou could do nothing to him in Danqing.

Xu Jianxun pressured Gao Lian to accelerate the investigations into Zhou Shiyuan and the tip-off letter, while evidence against Deshun Company forced Zhou to confess and exposed corruption within the Discipline Inspection Commission. As officials fell, Ou Qingwen feared Wen Mosheng would implicate him, but Wen called to assure him he had stayed silent and asked for help making a living.

• Xu Jianxun ordered Gao Lian to uncover Zhou Shiyuan's violations quickly and investigate who had forwarded the tip-off letter.
• Investigators arrested Duan Hongli after evidence and Qian's final letter revealed that the demolition company had deliberately caused five deaths.
• Duan Hongli's confession led police to take control of Deshun Company's senior executives, including Ding Yan and Zhu Li, and Zhou Shiyuan confessed to his own violations.
• Zhou Shiyuan exposed Chang Shuo as a messenger between him and the outside world, leading investigators to uncover Qiu Ci and Deputy Secretary Jiao Renshan.
• Yao Geyu disappeared and was later reported under investigation, while Wen Mosheng was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office.
• Wen Mosheng called Ou Qingwen and implied he had kept Ou's secrets, and Ou promised to arrange work for him outside the system.

Ou Qingwen learned that a drugged hotel employee had publicly exposed his affairs and named his mistresses, prompting a provincial investigation. As Zhu Changlei ordered the police to investigate Pan Yan, Ou Qingwen realized Zhou Yi’s cursed “Officialdom Killer” nickname had caught up with him too.

• After settling Wen Mosheng’s matter, Ou Qingwen received Jiang Yueqin’s call saying police had detained Pan Yan.
• Jiang Yueqin explained that Pan Yan’s employee had driven after drinking and taking drugs, then claimed Pan Yan and Ou Qingwen’s other mistresses were involved with him.
• The employee showed officers photos and videos and boasted about his affairs, prompting the police to report the claims up the chain to Tang Nan.
• Tang Nan reported the incident to Zhu Changlei, who ordered an immediate investigation into Pan Yan at the Spring Arrival Hotel.
• Ou Qingwen trembled as he smoked and blamed Zhou Yi’s cursed “Officialdom Killer” nickname for his predicament.

Zhou Yi learned that Ou Qingwen had turned himself in and reflected that the scandal had unfolded as he remembered, leaving him free to focus on Xie Chenglin. In Danqing, Xie Chenglin dismissed warnings about Zhou Yi and angrily argued with Zhuang Yuqian.

• Xiang Chang'an told Zhou Yi that Ou Qingwen had confessed misconduct after meeting with senior officials, and Zhou Yi concluded Ou Qingwen’s wider crimes would likely bring criminal charges.
• Zhou Yi recalled how a drug-fueled traffic accident had exposed Ou Qingwen’s affairs and corruption, and resolved to turn his attention to Xie Chenglin.
• Zhuang Yuqian confronted Xie Chenglin for continuing to visit mistresses despite warnings to keep a low profile while Zhou Yi was in Jiangnan.
• Xie Chenglin mocked Zhuang Yuqian’s warning and insisted Zhou Yi had no power to harm him in Danqing.

Xie Chenglin learned that his wife and mistress were both pregnant, while Zhou Yi received a report accusing him of misconduct. Zhou Yi left Xu Jianxun and Gao Lian to consider the allegations against the Danqing City executive vice mayor.

• Dai Yinxiang warned Xie Chenglin that Zhou Yi was dangerous and revealed that Zhuang Yuqian was pregnant.
• Xie Chenglin accused Zhuang Yuqian of infidelity, but she insisted the child was his and challenged him to face the truth.
• Xie Chenglin answered a call from his mistress, who told him she was pregnant, and promised to speak with her the next day.
• Zhou Yi gave Xu Jianxun and Gao Lian a report alleging that Xie Chenglin kept mistresses and interfered with a serviceman's marriage.