And the Winner Is Love Episode 24 Recap
> And the Winner Is Love Recap
Zhong Xuezhi addressed the court, stating that while the Nine Moves of Lotus God belonged to her Hall of Flames, the manual had been stolen years ago, meaning others in the martial world now knew the technique. She pointed out that she was at the Hall of Flames when the murder occurred, making it impossible for her to have killed someone in Immortal Mountain Yingzhou.
Yuwen Muyuan, the Chief Guardian of the Hall of Flames, attempted to testify on her behalf, but the official dismissed his testimony due to his affiliation with Zhong Xuezhi. As the official found her claims unconvincing without evidence, Zhong Xuezhi requested an autopsy of the deceased, Zhang Shan. She asserted that anyone who died from the Nine Moves would bear specific marks, which she believed Zhang Shan’s body would not have.
The official agreed, and upon examination, Zhong Xuezhi immediately noticed something was amiss. She explained that the lotus mark on Zhang Shan’s neck, which was presented as evidence of the Nine Moves, was actually a swollen scab, indicative of a burn rather than the blood coagulation caused by the martial art.
She argued that the killer had exploited public knowledge of the lotus mark while being ignorant of its true characteristics, deliberately falsifying the cause of death to frame the Hall of Flames. Unsure whether to believe her, the official presented a death row inmate and demanded Zhong Xuezhi demonstrate the Nine Moves on him to prove her claims. Zhong Xuezhi staunchly refused to use such a powerful and lethal technique on a living person.
Yuwen Muyuan supported her, arguing that executing a condemned criminal should be left to the Imperial Court, not carried out in a public courtroom, as it would violate imperial law. Infuriated by their refusal, the official ordered Zhong Xuezhi to be imprisoned. Seeing Zhong Xuezhi unjustly jailed, Yuwen Muyuan realized he had no choice but to collaborate with Shangguan Tou to secure her release. Shangguan Tou instructed Wuming to secretly monitor anyone attempting to interfere with Zhang Shan’s body.
Just as anticipated, Feng Mo was discovered attempting to hastily bury Zhang Shan's corpse to destroy evidence. Wuming apprehended Feng Mo and brought him before Shangguan Tou and Yuwen Muyuan. Shangguan Tou revealed that Zhang Shan had died from a blow to the back of his head, not the Nine Moves, and the lotus mark was a counterfeit. Yuwen Muyuan further confirmed that Zhang Shan’s family had accepted money from Feng Mo to suppress the truth.
With the evidence mounting, Shangguan Tou arranged for a coroner to officially examine the body. Realizing their culpability, Zhang Shan’s family withdrew the case, leading to Zhong Xuezhi’s immediate release. Wuming escorted Zhong Xuezhi to where Shangguan Tou and Yuwen Muyuan held a bound Feng Mo. Shangguan Tou, after ensuring Zhong Xuezhi’s safety, calmly departed, leaving Feng Mo for them to interrogate.
Zhong Xuezhi was left with complex emotions, unsure how to face Shangguan Tou, who had once again come to her rescue. She proceeded to question Feng Mo, demanding to know Huashan Sect’s true intentions, given their persistent coveting of the Nine Moves, their past attacks on the Hall of Flames, and now this deliberate framing. Feng Mo defiantly claimed it was an act of vengeance, asserting that Zhong Xuezhi's father, Chong Ye, had killed his grandfather years ago.
He then offered to ask his father, Feng Cheng, to cease targeting the Hall of Flames if Zhong Xuezhi would hand over the manual of Lotus Wing. Zhong Xuezhi retorted, reminding him of his current predicament and questioning who was truly in a position to beg for mercy. Yuwen Muyuan suggested resorting to torture, but Zhong Xuezhi opposed, arguing that violence was not the answer, especially given her father's accidental role in Feng Mo's grandfather's death.
She hoped to uncover Feng Cheng's motives through peaceful means. Zhong Xuezhi interrogated Feng Mo throughout the night, but he remained tight-lipped about Feng Cheng’s actual reason for framing the Hall of Flames. Feng She, overhearing their conversation, suddenly remembered a conversation with Man Feiyue, where he was told that Feng Cheng, the Huashan Sect leader, was his biological father, making Feng Mo his brother.
To protect Feng Mo from Yuwen Muyuan's growing impatience, Feng She offered a "pill of honesty" from his sect, claiming it would make anyone speak the truth. Zhong Xuezhi, desperate, agreed to let Feng Mo take it. However, Feng Mo immediately fainted. Feng She confessed he had given his brother a sedative, not a truth serum, and that the pill required a special "catalyst" he conveniently didn't have.
He then feigned concern about getting the catalyst and rushed out, only to be ambushed and knocked unconscious by Yuan Shuangshuang, who had been sent by Feng Cheng to rescue his son. Yuan Shuangshuang then tied Feng She up outside the room and made him cry for help. Yuwen Muyuan, hearing the commotion, rushed out to help Feng She, falling for Yuan Shuangshuang's diversion. By the time he returned, Feng Mo had been freed and spirited away by Yuan Shuangshuang.
Meanwhile, Lin Fengzi, whom Yuan Shuangshuang had taken to Suzhou to "see the world" at her father's request, inadvertently spotted Shangguan Tou in the city. She confronted Yuan Shuangshuang, questioning if her master had brought her to Suzhou specifically because she knew Shangguan Tou was there. Yuan Shuangshuang admitted her intent was to help Lin Fengzi pursue Shangguan Tou.
She then subtly encouraged Lin Fengzi to seize the opportunity, and when Shangguan Tou was distracted, Yuan Shuangshuang used her "Breeze Acupoint Lock" to immobilize him, leaving him in Lin Fengzi’s room. Back in Immortal Mountain Yingzhou, a subordinate urgently informed Zhong Xuezhi and Yuwen Muyuan that Huashan Sect and Emei Sect were uniting to attack the Hall of Flames.
Realizing they had been tricked by the frame-up and Feng Mo's escape, Zhong Xuezhi and Yuwen Muyuan immediately set off to return. En route, they were intercepted by Yuan Shuangshuang, who attempted to delay them further. Zhong Xuezhi fought back, injuring Yuan Shuangshuang before speeding away. At the same time, Lin Fengzi released Shangguan Tou from the acupoint lock.
She expressed her regret and remorse for what had happened at the engagement banquet, clarifying that nothing untoward had truly occurred between them, and pleaded for his forgiveness. Shangguan Tou acknowledged her honesty but gravely insisted that she must repeat her confession in front of Zhong Xuezhi. Upon their arrival at Immortal Mountain Yingzhou, they learned Zhong Xuezhi had already left to defend the Hall of Flames.
They pursued her, and on the road, they came across the injured Yuan Shuangshuang. Shangguan Tou confronted her, laying out his suspicions about her involvement in framing him and her true allegiance. Cornered, Yuan Shuangshuang finally admitted she was Feng Cheng's spy, planted in Sword Manor years ago to steal the Nine Moves of Lotus God. She revealed that Shangguan Tou had discovered her just as she was about to succeed.
Fearing exposure, she had exploited Lin Fengzi’s deep affection for Shangguan Tou, drugging their wine to create the false impression that Shangguan Tou had disgraced Lin Fengzi, thus driving him out of Sword Manor. She also confessed to orchestrating the subsequent poisonings and assassination attempts against him, and the misunderstandings between him and Zhong Xuezhi at the engagement banquet. Lin Fengzi listened in stunned silence, realizing with horror that she had merely been a pawn in Yuan Shuangshuang's elaborate schemes.
Shangguan Tou, having received the full disclosure, stated he would not pursue old grievances but warned Yuan Shuangshuang against further aiding Feng Cheng, threatening severe retaliation if she continued her deceitful ways. He then directed Feng She, who was nearby and still recovering, to leave with Yuan Shuangshuang.
