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| Justifiable Defense Ending Explained: One of 2025’s Boldest Legal Twists in C-Drama |
Episode count: 15
Platform: iQIYI
Genre: Legal Thriller, Mystery, Psychological Drama
Main Cast: Bai Jingting, Gao Ye, Edward Zhang, Baby Zhang, Ye Qing
🚨 Quick Recap of Justifiable Defense Final Episode:
The finale opens the way it all began — with blood and a confession.
Senior prosecutor Duan HongShan (Edward Zhang) turns himself in, claiming self-defense after killing an elderly man, Zhou Delong.
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But the situation spirals quickly: young prosecutor Fang Ling Yuan (Chloe Gao Ye) is sent from the provincial office to check if Duan abused power in past cases.
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As the case unravels, we’re taken back 14 years to a tangled mess involving Li MuFeng (Bai Jingting), who served jail time for excessive self-defense during a campus assault.
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Turns out, this old case is tied to everything — the murder, the recent domestic violence killing by Jiang Ting, and witness testimonies from Mei Zheng (Baby Zhang).
One by one, old lies are pulled into the light. But just when you think you've figured it out — bam — the show hits you with yet another reversal.
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🧠 Justifiable Defense Ending Explained: Who Was Right, Who Was Wrong?
This ending is less about heroes and villains — and more about how the legal system, trauma, and personal guilt can push people to make impossible choices.
Here's the crux:
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Li Mu Feng, once a campus hero who killed to save Mei Zheng, ended up doing time. But that case was misjudged. After prison, his life falls apart. He becomes consumed with clearing his name — and starts plotting.
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He bonds with Zhou Delong, the grieving father of the man he accidentally killed years ago. In a strange twist of fate, Zhou forgives him — even sees him as a surrogate son.
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Zhou, now terminally ill, tells Li his dying wish: to see Duan Hong Shan held accountable.
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Li fakes a livestream to bait Duan into a confession. But the plan goes sideways — Zhou is killed in a struggle, and Duan confesses.
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Meanwhile, Mei Zheng helps cover up the mess to protect Li — swapping phones, hiding evidence. She even gives Li the real phone, letting him choose truth or silence. He chooses to destroy it.
The final verdicts:
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Duan Hong Shan: Found innocent, justified in his self-defense — thanks to video evidence.
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Jiang Ting: Her act of killing her abusive ex was also ruled self-defense, backed by years of abuse.
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Li Mu Feng and Mei Zheng: Both face legal consequences for obstruction and perjury. Their sacrifices for one another were noble — but unlawful.
The story closes with most characters getting closure — except for Mei and Li. Their fates are tragic, but honest. In the end, justice is served... but no one walks away unscathed.
🧍♂️ Characters Wrapped
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Li Mu Feng (Bai Jingting): Once a hero, now a fallen figure haunted by injustice and revenge. His final act is both redemptive and illegal. A heartbreaking portrayal of someone failed by the system — and desperate to reclaim his dignity.
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Mei Zheng (Baby Zhang Bojia): Perhaps the most complex character. Branded unfairly in youth, manipulated, then forced to relive her trauma. Her loyalty to Li is touching, but it costs her everything.
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Fang Ling Yuan (Gao Ye): Sharp, rational, but emotionally involved. Her development shines in the finale as she learns to balance law with empathy. Her past connection to Jiang Ting adds weight to her final decision.
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Duan Hong Shan (Edward Zhang): A moral prosecutor caught in emotional chaos. He acts violently, but in panic. Eventually, he’s cleared and returns to his career — a man changed by the weight of his decisions.
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Jiang Ting (Ye Qing): A domestic abuse victim who fought back. With enough evidence of long-term harm, she’s granted a clean slate. Her ending gives hope, but it’s bittersweet.
✅ TL;DR – Final Thoughts
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Finale = Twists on twists: Three separate cases tie into one layered backstory.
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Li Mu Feng wasn’t the victim he seemed — he orchestrated much of the chaos post-release.
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Duan Hong Shan killed in self-defense, but only after being baited.
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Jiang Ting’s case becomes a landmark for domestic abuse self-defense.
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Mei Zheng and Li Mu Feng pay the price for covering up too much.
❓ FAQ – Justifiable Defense Finale
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Q: Was Li Mu Feng guilty in the final episode?
A: Legally, yes — he faked a livestream and destroyed evidence. But morally, it’s grey. He never meant for Zhou to die, and his actions were born from pain and desperation.
Q: Why did Mei Zheng protect Li?
A: Guilt and love. She blamed herself for his prison sentence years ago and wanted to give him a second chance, even if it meant sacrificing herself.
Q: Did Duan Hong Shan really abuse his power 14 years ago?
A: No — he made a controversial decision based on limited evidence. Fang Ling Yuan eventually sees that his judgment, while tough, followed legal procedure.
Q: Who really caused the campus tragedy 14 years ago?
A: It was Zhang Yuan — Jiang Ting’s abusive husband — who manipulated the bully into harassing Mei Zheng. Li killed the wrong person while trying to protect her.
Q: What happens to Mei and Li in the end?
A: Their legal punishment isn’t shown in full detail, but it’s clear both will face consequences. Their emotional arcs are complete — but not redemptive.