Checkmate Episode 1 Recap
> Checkmate Recap
Councilor Xu and his assistant arrived at Zhengyang Gate station. His assistant confidently told him that nine councilors in Harbin now supported them, ensuring their victory in the upcoming election. Councilor Xu, however, advised caution, asking him to save his breath in such a public place. Moments later, a man in a black hat shot Councilor Xu in the back, killing him instantly. Amidst the chaos and shouts of "Murder!"
, Luo Shaochuan pursued and apprehended the assassin, later identified as Ma Shiying. In court, Situ Yan presented compelling forensic evidence. He explained that the bullet's trajectory, combined with the distance between the shooter and the victim, indicated the assailant was approximately 1. 8 meters tall with an arm span of 0. 75 meters, a description that matched only the defendant, Ma Shiying. When Ma Shiying arrogantly dismissed the evidence, Situ Yan was ready to conclude his case.
However, Ma Shiying's defense lawyer interjected with new evidence, revealing that Ma Shiying had acquired Russian nationality. The judge, citing numerous questionable points and diplomatic constraints, declared the court adjourned and scheduled a retrial. Situ Yan was outraged, arguing that Ma Shiying was caught in the act on Chinese soil, with abundant evidence, including witness testimonies, the recovered 0. 38-inch Colt revolver, and matching firing pin marks and fingerprints.
Despite this, the judge deemed his evidence procedurally invalid and ordered bailiffs to remove him from the courtroom for disrupting order. Situ Yan defiantly questioned the judge's integrity, asking if he was worthy of being Chinese for refusing to convict a foreign national who murdered a Chinese official. The aftermath of the trial was severe. Division Chief Wang showed Situ Yan a newspaper editorial titled "Which course should justice follow?"
, informing him that everyone in Beijing now blamed him for allowing Ma Shiying to escape. Situ Yan tore up the newspaper. Division Chief Wang urged him to apologize to the court to save his reputation and career, emphasizing that public opinion was against him despite his pursuit of justice.
Situ Yan vehemently refused, stating he preferred to lose such a prospect and declaring that if darkness attempted to conceal the truth, he would be the mantis willing to challenge it. Division Chief Wang, hinting at powerful forces at play, warned him against being self-important. Later, Situ Yan received a letter from his mentor, Shen Jianxian. The letter passionately discussed China's eroded sovereignty due to foreign extraterritoriality and the urgent need to establish an independent legal system.
Shen Jianxian announced the formation of a lawyer association in Harbin with like-minded individuals to reclaim legal independence and invited Situ Yan to join them for important discussions. Moved by the letter, Situ Yan decided to go to Harbin. Division Chief Wang was surprised that his strong-willed friend was so easily swayed but conceded that Shen Jianxian's words had truly resonated with Situ Yan's core principles.
Division Chief Wang accompanied Situ Yan, asking him to convey his regards to Shen Jianxian. They stopped at a street stall for breakfast, where Luo Shaochuan and his subordinates were also dining. Overhearing Luo Shaochuan's men criticizing him for letting Ma Shiying go, Situ Yan nearly confronted them but was pulled away by Division Chief Wang. At the train station, Luo Shaochuan was angrily accusing his subordinate of stealing his Colt revolver, threatening him under military law.
Situ Yan intervened, asking Luo Shaochuan if he intended to commit murder in public. The subordinate explained that after breakfast, Luo Shaochuan's pistol disappeared, replaced by a button from his uniform in Luo Shaochuan's pocket. Situ Yan, after examining and sniffing the button, immediately ran back towards the street stall, with Luo Shaochuan and his men in pursuit. They discovered the stall owner in possession of the stolen pistol.
The owner, wielding the gun, confessed that he intended to avenge his daughter, who committed suicide after being raped by a local ruffian named Wang San. Situ Yan calmly urged him to put down the weapon, promising justice and explaining that while his grievances were profound, stealing a military pistol and committing murder were unlawful. Division Chief Wang arrived and assured the owner that the Ministry of Justice would handle the case.
Situ Yan, however, reiterated that no matter the reason, breaking the law was unacceptable. Luo Shaochuan later admitted he was impressed by Situ Yan's deduction. Situ Yan explained that the oil on the button, combined with the fact that only the stall owner, Division Chief Wang, and himself had oily hands from breakfast, indicated the stall owner was the thief. He reasoned that Luo Shaochuan's men hadn't eaten fried rings, so their hands wouldn't be oily.
The owner must have taken the pistol and planted the button in the subordinate's pocket. Situ Yan further deduced the owner's murderous intent, dismissing Luo Shaochuan's suggestion that the gun might be for protection. Luo Shaochuan, now grateful, introduced himself and offered future assistance, also commending Situ Yan's sharp mind. Division Chief Wang clarified that the stall owner would face minimal consequences due to lack of direct evidence, allowing him to take care of the family in the interim.
As a gesture of gratitude and to return a favor, Luo Shaochuan insisted Situ Yan travel in the first-class carriage, a luxurious section known as the Orient Express. Despite Situ Yan's initial reluctance and the conductor's claim that all compartments were full, Luo Shaochuan found an unclaimed compartment and assigned it to Situ Yan. During the journey, Qi Hong, a woman who previously had Situ Yan carry her luggage, tried to flirt and engage him in conversation.
Situ Yan's reserved demeanor and germophobia, however, led her to believe he was "crazy," and she left. At lunch, he briefly encountered a coughing middle-aged woman, who showed him photos of her daughter and grandson. Later, in the dining car, Situ Yan spotted Ma Shiying, who was loudly proclaiming his immunity from legal consequences. A group of reporters, including Jin Qiming, swarmed Ma Shiying, pressing him on his early departure from Beijing and whether he was fleeing the country.
Ma Shiying reacted aggressively, until Luo Shaochuan intervened to maintain order. Situ Yan observed Luo Shaochuan warning Ma Shiying to behave, to which Ma Shiying retorted that Luo Shaochuan couldn't do anything to him. Situ Yan informed Luo Shaochuan that Ma Shiying possessed a gun, but Luo Shaochuan dismissed the threat in such a public setting. Upon returning to his compartment, Situ Yan found himself in the room adjacent to Ma Shiying. That night, Situ Yan was awakened by commotion.
He opened his door to find the train conductor, Old Liu, who had been drinking, dismissing Qi Hong's panicked report of a man in her room with a lewd comment about her. Situ Yan then asked Old Liu for hot water. He also saw Qi Hong, in a red qipao, walk by at some point. The next morning, Old Liu frantically reported a murder in the first-class carriage. It was Ma Shiying.
Luo Shaochuan rushed to the scene, initially confronting Situ Yan and accusing him of the murder, even offering money and an escape plan. Situ Yan, confused, vehemently denied his involvement. During the investigation, Old Liu explained that he and Ma Shiying's secretary, Wan Jixiang, discovered the body after Ma Shiying missed his breakfast. The door to Ma Shiying's compartment was locked from the inside, but through a crack, Old Liu saw Ma Shiying was dead.
He recounted last seeing Ma Shiying alive around 1 AM, when Ma Shiying rang his bell and spoke Russian before dismissing him. A subordinate informed them that the train had been stopped since around 0:30 AM due to railway damage ahead and had not moved. A doctor's examination confirmed Ma Shiying's death occurred between midnight and 2 AM, with his shattered watch stopping at 1:15 AM.
He had sustained nine stab wounds of varying depths, some from the right hand and deeper ones from the left, including two fatal blows to the heart and lung. Given that the train had been stationary and no one had left the first-class carriage, Situ Yan concluded the murderer was still on board, likely within their carriage. Immediately, Zong Yan pointed to Situ Yan as the most likely suspect, given their public altercation the previous day.
Situ Yan countered that he sought justice through the law, not private vengeance. Wan Jixiang, Ma Shiying's secretary, quickly provided an alibi, stating he was drinking with Zong Yan last night, which Zong Yan confirmed, though he specified he was only drinking tea. Panicked, Qi Hong claimed she had seen the killer, fearing for her life, and asserted he had hidden in her room last night, potentially seeing her.
She could only describe him as a man and pleaded for his capture. Another passenger scoffed, suggesting Qi Hong was only worried about losing a client and implying she might be the killer, seeking revenge for Councilor Xu. Luo Shaochuan quickly ended the arguments, ordering everyone back to their compartments and forbidding unauthorized movement.
Jin Qiming, a reporter, was found writing an article suggesting Situ Yan was the murderer, claiming Ma Shiying was killed while fleeing abroad on the Orient Express. Luo Shaochuan accused Jin Qiming of fabricating the story and even suggested Jin Qiming himself might be the killer, hiding in the dining car. Jin Qiming defended himself, explaining he was let in by Old Liu and hadn't moved. Situ Yan advised Jin Qiming to stop speculating and avoid raising suspicion on himself.
