This director is vindictive.

Chapter 277 That Dazzling White Shirt

Zhang Chao's recantation in court caused an uproar both inside and outside the courtroom. The judge had no choice but to adjourn the court and return the case for further investigation. Yan Liang was urgently transferred to take over this bizarre reversal case. He squatted outside the interrogation room, a cigarette dangling from his lips, staring at the calm-looking Zhang Chao on the surveillance screen, and suddenly chuckled: "Interesting, this case is alive."

Yan Liang obtained crucial details from forensic expert Lao Ma: the ligature marks on Jiang Yang's neck did not match the electrical wire marks, and the body had been moved after death. However, Zhang Chao's "confession" insisted that he strangled Jiang Yang with an electrical wire. This created a contradiction—the murderer might be someone else.

The three-pronged narrative unfolds here.

The scene shifts to Jiang Yang's final days. As a young prosecutor, he is secretly investigating an old case: ten years ago, Hou Guiping, a female teacher in a rural area, "committed suicide" after reporting a Kahn Group executive for sexually assaulting female students, but the autopsy report is riddled with inconsistencies. Jiang Yang's investigation reveals that Hou Guiping's death is connected to senior executives of the Kahn Group and the local public security and judicial system.

This also brought to light the "Kahn Group" that Zhou Xiaobin had previously documented.

Sure enough, the clues had been hidden all along.

Yan Liang quickly discovered through his investigations that Zhang Chao, Jiang Yang, and Hou Guiping were classmates in university. Before Zhang Chao recanted his confession, he received an anonymous letter containing only a photograph—key evidence in the Hou Guiping case. It turned out that Zhang Chao's "self-disclosure" was a carefully orchestrated media frenzy: he deliberately created a sensational case to force the police to reopen the investigation, dragging the Kahn Group and the Hou Guiping case back into the public eye.

The first episode ended by revealing some mysteries, but at the same time leaving even more unanswered questions.

Late at night, Yan Liang found the dusty case file of Hou Guiping in the archives. Under the light of his flashlight, a line of altered writing appeared: "Not suicide, murder."

Meanwhile, Zhang Chao whispered to his lawyer in the detention center, "Next, it's 'his' turn to appear..."

The camera cuts to the back of a man in the darkness—Zhu Wei, the criminal police officer who was in charge of the Hou Guiping case back then, now living in anonymity for many years.

The first episode of "The Silent Truth" was released on the first day, but that was enough.

As expected, the netizens' reaction was extremely strong!

"Holy crap, this is high-energy right from the start! Zhang Chao confessed and accepted punishment one second, and then recanted his confession in court the next, completely overwhelming the judge!"

"This isn't just recanting a confession, it's like throwing a bomb at the judicial system! The screenwriter is incredibly daring!"

"As expected of Teacher Ning Li, and as expected of Li Fengtian, the legendary smoker, damn it, that smile he gave when he recanted his testimony in court was absolutely amazing!"

"The past (Hou Guiping case), the present (Zhang Chao case), and the future (Yan Liang's investigation) run in parallel, with an explosive amount of information but without any confusion!"

"Now I understand why it's called 'The Silent Truth'—it's terrifying to think about!"

"Only when Jiang Yang investigated Hou Guiping's case did I understand why Zhang Chao risked his life for this scheme—the screenwriter's intricate foreshadowing is truly chilling!"

"Holy crap, this show is amazing. Putting everything else aside, just the fact that it even got aired is incredible. The moment the flashlight shone on the 'homicide' scene and it was changed to 'suicide,' my hair stood on end! They just slapped the truth right in our faces! They're really daring!"

"The real-life case feels too familiar. Who is the Kahn Group based on? Those who know, know..."

"As expected of Chen Mo, and as expected of the final installment of the Mist Trilogy, 'The Silent Truth' throws out the ultimate question of 'procedural justice vs. risking one's life for the truth' in the very first episode. The entire cast delivers excellent performances, the pacing is comparable to an American drama, and it's truly the pinnacle of Chinese dramas!"

At the same time, the show's popularity skyrocketed.

#The Silent Truth became an instant hit upon its premiere#
#Zhang Chao's famous recantation scene#
#From Li Fengtian to Zhang Chao, Ning Lishen's acting skills are on full display#
The comments section exploded: "Zhang Chao's recantation wasn't an attempt to escape punishment, but rather a way to expose the dark side of the judicial system by using himself as a 'human bomb'! He deliberately left loopholes for Yan Liang to investigate; this move was too ruthless!"

"The judge's hands were shaking when he announced the recess. This case is too complicated. Anyone who dares to take it on is doomed... Yan Liang is the only 'crazy critic' who dares to get to the bottom of things, right?"

"Ning Li's portrayal of Zhang Chao was absolutely brilliant; the twitch at the corner of his mouth when he recanted his testimony was incredible! He appeared calm on the surface but was actually insane, giving me goosebumps even more than Li Fengtian!"

"Yan Liang's posture while squatting and watching the surveillance camera is exactly the same as in 'The Untouchable'! Is this show part of the 'Crazy Detective Universe'?"

"When procedural justice fails, is sacrificing one's life for the truth all that's left? Jiang Yang risked his life to investigate the case, Zhang Chao risked his life to recant his confession, Zhu Wei risked his life to hide evidence... The silent ones are the most ruthless swordsmen!"

"The title 'The Silent Truth' is too ironic—Hou Guiping died silently, Jiang Yang was killed silently, Zhang Chao plotted silently... and the truth roars forever in silence!"

Meanwhile, the fact that "The Silent Truth" had zero ads was also highly praised.

"Holy crap, now I finally understand why Chen Mo would rather switch roles and do a live stream himself than let this show have zero ads. If some stupid ad breakout comes in, it'll break the immersion in the show in no time!"

"This kind of drama is really not suitable for commercials. I just feel that the whole drama is very depressing!"

"Only one episode a day? Who's going to watch that?"

The subsequent plot of this drama did not disappoint. With the unfolding of several storylines, the mystery was unraveled, and as one suspense was solved, even more suspense immediately followed.

As the plot gradually becomes clearer, the suspense actually decreases, but this does not affect the show's popularity at all.

Because the focus of "The Silent Truth" is not on the "truth" itself, but rather on the "silence." The more silent the truth is, the more profound the light becomes.

Especially Jiang Yang, it can be said that no one expected that the corpse at the beginning would become the protagonist of the whole series.

As the plot unfolds, Jiang Yang, played by Bai Yu, has become the focus of attention for countless people.

Although everyone knows that his end was martyrdom.

But why exactly? As the Kahn Group comes to light, and as the plot gradually becomes clear.

The character Jiang Yang has also become a household name.

Especially after the episode where Jiang Yang lost his wallet aired, "Jiang Yang lost his wallet" immediately became a trending topic.

#Jiangyang lost his wallet#
#Jiangyang's Twenty Years#
#Silent Truth Blade Wholesaler#
In this episode, when Jiang Yang lost his wallet and suddenly broke down in tears, the screen was filled with comments like, "He cried!"

On Weibo, many netizens posted selfies, and almost all of them were crying.

"He didn't just lose his wallet, he lost his last shred of dignity."

"His entire life was contained in his wallet: a broken family, unfulfilled justice, and a dead end."

"Jiang Yang losing his wallet and Zhang Chao recanting his testimony in the first episode form a closed loop. Zhang Chao risked his freedom to ignite public opinion, while Jiang Yang risked his life but couldn't even keep his wallet, highlighting the absurdity of procedural justice."

"Jiang Yang's collapse was not only due to material hardship, but also the ultimate loneliness of an idealist—he risked his life to pursue the truth, yet he could not even maintain the most basic life."

"We're not crying over our wallets, but over the powerlessness that every ordinary person feels when faced with injustice."

"Because of the loss of her wallet, she cried uncontrollably like a child."

He wasn't crying over the lost money; he was crying over his life, his dignity, and his future.

Despite his young age, he had already seen the end of his life.

Some netizens even wrote lengthy posts explaining why they couldn't help but cry when they saw this scene.

"Jiang Yang is just an ordinary person like us. When the most difficult moment in life comes, when the last straw breaks the camel's back, perhaps everyone wants to cry their heart out without any regard for appearances."

What happened to those people who cried while eating steamed buns on the side of the road, cried while hugging their wives in the subway station, cried while wearing masks on the bus, and knelt down in front of traffic police at the intersection?

They are us too.

I know that was me in the past.

I understand the hardships and sorrows hidden behind their smiling masks. Even when I was young, I knew that life was not easy.

Having lived half my life, I've realized that life is much harder than I imagined.

It is said that an adult's breakdown is silent.

Beneath the calm exterior of every adult lies a torrent of unseen undercurrents, until one day they can no longer contain themselves and pour it all out.

When that moment comes, then have a good cry.

No one actually laughed at us, because we understand, and therefore we are compassionate.

No one expected that the biggest bombshell of "The Silent Truth" would happen at this moment.

At the same time, "The Silent Truth" truly had a strong start and a phenomenal finish.

However, this is not the end; it is only the beginning.

Some even posted animated GIFs showing Jiang Yang's transformation from a spirited prosecutor to a dejected, weeping figure, and finally to his suicide, leaving behind a corpse. The caption read:

"What impressed me most was the white shirt Jiang Yang wore before he died, which remained with him throughout his life."

When he was a prosecutor, he was a clean and bright young man, his white shirt reflecting his clear-headed nature, and filled with boundless expectations for the future.

Later, he was wrongfully imprisoned. When I saw him again, his white clothes had turned to ash.

In just two years, his body became hunched over and his eyes became numb.

His pride as a prosecutor was brutally crushed.

Until the day he set up the trap with his own body and proved his path with his death, he put on his original white shirt again and became the young man who never forgot his original aspirations.

Using death to uphold the dignity of the judiciary, burning like an inextinguishable torch in the darkness, illuminating the path the latter came from.

He proved his justice as a prosecutor in his short life.

As this Weibo post went viral, a group of people quickly erupted in protest.

#Jiangyang, your colleagues have arrived#
The message read: Jiang Yang, you are not alone. Look, judicial organs across the country have come to support you, and your colleagues have all come!
This topic quickly became a trending topic, and its readership skyrocketed to an astonishing level.

Meanwhile, staff members of judicial organs across the country forwarded and left comments.

"This Weibo post brought me to tears. Even when you are in darkness, there will still be those who spread the light and encourage you to move forward!"

"Those who run alone in the long night on the road to justice are always lonely and isolated. But it is precisely because of their heroic struggle that they ignite a spark that can start a prairie fire."

"To Prosecutor Jiang Yang: Thank you for upholding justice and safeguarding the dignity of the judiciary!"

"Jiang Yang, a prosecutor who upholds his ideals, is like a flame that will illuminate justice even if he is burned to ashes."

"Thank you to those who strive for justice and truth. Stay true to your original aspirations and remain steadfast in your sincerity. #WhatIWantToSayToProsecutorJiangYang#Your colleagues are here!"

"#What I want to say to Prosecutor Jiang Yang# In this vast sea of ​​people, it is because of people like you that we have a glimmer of light in our hearts that illuminates hope. You are not alone, we are all here for you."

"The Silent Truth" has broken its silence and become the hottest drama right now, bar none.

In fact, the final chapter of this trilogy has generated far more buzz than the previous two installments.

The rating, originally 8.8, jumped to 9.2! During the viewing process, the plot of this drama repeatedly trended on social media, sparking heated discussions among netizens.

Netizens even called it:
"The most tear-jerking TV series of the year!"

"The most heartbreaking drama ever!"

"A show that made me cry for no reason for several episodes!"

Although some people were criticizing and pointing out various flaws in the show, it couldn't stop the millions of people from giving it a rating of over 9 points.

Compared to its predecessor, there are no more annoying or overwhelming advertisements, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the show without being disturbed. As a result, the doubts and criticisms were quickly silenced by many fans.

"The Silent Truth" is certainly not a perfect series. Indeed, the story's structure is very similar to that of the foreign series "The Life of David Gale," a point that has been mentioned most frequently and criticized in reviews.

But for the vast majority of ordinary viewers, is it really because this show is so perfect that they actually ignore the so-called bugs, the so-called flaws, and the so-called "overrated" works?
The answer is no. The real reason why this show is so highly praised by the vast majority of people is not because the story is so attractive, innovative, or wonderful.

Rather, it's because this drama touched on many people's sore spots!

As the saying goes, "At first, no one cared about this disaster, until it became relevant to everyone."

Initially, many people watched it for the suspense, but as they watched, many could actually guess the plot, yet they still followed it to the end, which is the biggest reason.

It can be said that the theme of this drama elevates the overall quality of the series!
Having finally finished watching the series, Zhou Xiaobin worked through the night to write a film review titled "Idealistic Martyrs, Sacrificers of Justice."

"I finally finished watching this drama, and the ending left me feeling suffocated. Jiang Yang risked his life to uncover the truth, but he himself perished forever. Zhang Xiaoqian was sentenced to two years, Lao Zhu to six years, Zhang Chao to two years, and even Lao Chen couldn't escape imprisonment in the end."

On his deathbed, Jiang Yang kept repeating, "I did my best"—he truly fought to his last breath. To seek justice, he sacrificed his youth, career, and family, ultimately losing his life. This single-minded prosecutor, caught between oppression and reality, gritted his teeth and slowly tore through the darkness.

Jiang Yang is dead.

This stubborn prosecutor ultimately ignited the torch of truth with his own life, but he did not live to see the dawn. When he used his last strength to say "I did my best" on his sickbed, his voice was as light as a snowflake falling on a red-hot iron plate, fleeting yet burning the heart with pain.

This was a meticulously planned mass martyrdom.

This group of "madmen," like moths drawn to a flame, crashed one after another into the high wall called "justice." They could have, like most people, ignored the thin layer of dust on Hou Guiping's case file and continued to live decent and stable lives. But Jiang Yang insisted on wiping it away, and ended up with a bloody hand.

To be honest, most of us would have run far away from this kind of thing. But Jiang Yang chose the most difficult path, and for that alone, he deserves the title of 'hero'. And then there are Zhu Wei, Lao Chen, Zhang Xiaoqian, and the others, who sacrificed their jobs, reputations, and even freedom, all for the sake of justice.

In reality, idealists like them are often the first to be crushed. Jiang Yang and his ilk are like heroes in ancient Greek tragedies, knowingly doing the impossible. Zhu Wei ruined his future, Chen Mingzhang ended up in a clinic, and Zhang Xiaoqian lost her press card—these scars are the marks of their rebellion, and also a warning from reality to those who "don't know their place."

What's most disheartening is that these people who risked their lives for justice were ultimately judged by justice themselves. But thinking about it carefully, if Hou Guiping hadn't started it all, if Jiang Yang and his comrades hadn't continued, if police officers like Yan Liang hadn't persisted, those evils hidden in the shadows would never have seen the light of day. It is precisely because of these 'fools' who went one after another that the people believe that justice still exists.

While Jiang Yang and his group's actions may have had mitigating circumstances, fabricating evidence and kidnapping hostages were indeed crimes. This ending feels like a heavy weight on my chest, but it's precisely this discomfort that makes us understand even more clearly: some bottom lines cannot be crossed, even for the sake of justice, and this world needs more people like Jiang Yang who dare to stand up for what's right.

Ultimately, the law is a yardstick; even good people who make mistakes must be punished.

But it was precisely this moth-to-a-flame persistence that allowed justice to reveal its divine nature in dire straits. Jiang Yang and his ilk knew that a few individuals alone could not break through the deeply entrenched network of vested interests. They chose to become sacrifices, using their own destruction to complete an enlightenment ritual.

Just like the well-worn "Criminal Law" book in the drama, the pages are not only stained with coffee, but also represent the blood sacrifice that idealists offered to the spirit of the rule of law.

Ultimately, the scales of justice did not tip in Jiang Yang's favor. This sophisticated instrument mechanically weighs crime and punishment, oblivious to the struggling souls beneath its pans. Yet, the progress of human society is often propelled by these "out-of-place" individuals. When Jiang Yang swore an oath before Hou Guiping's corpse in the morgue, when Zhu Wei dug up bones in the torrential rain, when Zhang Xiaoqian hid the recording pen in her underwear—the power gathered in these moments resonated more deeply with the human heart than any legal provision.

The play ends with a heavy snowfall, like a grand funeral. The tragedy of Jiang Yang and his ilk lies in the fact that they are both the gravediggers of the old order and the sacrifices of the new era. But the snow will eventually melt, and the glimmer of light they gained with their lives will remain in the eyes of everyone who has seen this story. Perhaps this is the meaning of idealists: not for guaranteed victory, but to prove that some things are worth fighting for with one's life.

(End of this chapter)