And the Winner Is Love Episode 26 Recap
> And the Winner Is Love Recap
Feng She arrived at Huashan Sect and presented himself as Feng Cheng's son. Unexpectedly, Feng Cheng accepted him without a hint of suspicion. Feng Cheng then inquired if Feng She had any acquaintances in the Hall of Flames. Feng She honestly replied that Chong Xuezhi and others had been kind to him since he had no family or friends growing up and now considered them his friends.
He implored his father not to trouble the Hall of Flames further, as he did not wish to see them fight to the death. Earlier, Feng She had a contentious exchange with Feng Mo, who, emboldened by his seniority, insulted Feng She's status as the Chief's son and mocked his past capture. Feng She retaliated by throwing special lime powder into Feng Mo's face, asserting his defiance.
Later, Yuan Shuangshuang asked Feng Cheng if he truly intended to publicly acknowledge Feng She as his long-lost son. Feng Cheng, with a cunning glint in his eye, confessed that he had no such intention; instead, he planned to exploit Feng She’s close ties with the Hall of Flames for his own purposes. Meanwhile, Lord Lu engaged Shangguan Xingzhou in a game of chess, a seemingly casual encounter that was, in reality, a subtle probing of courtly alliances and power.
Shangguan Zheng, Shangguan Tou's sister and Lord Lu's wife, initially watched, but Lord Lu soon sent her away, then requested Shangguan Tou to stay and join them. During the game, Lord Lu, feigning less skill than he possessed, encouraged Shangguan Tou to help him make a strategic move.
He subtly questioned Shangguan Tou about his involvement in the martial arts world, mentioning his role in clearing the Xuantian Hongling Temple, and asking if the Hall of Flames was a cult to be eradicated.
Shangguan Tou defended the Hall of Flames, explaining that it was skilled in forging weapons vital to the court and that its members were not bad people, citing a past disaster relief effort at the Twelve Yinxiang Canals where Chong Xuezhi, himself, and Lord Lu had worked together.
When Lord Lu hinted at Shangguan Tou's close relationship with the Hall of Flames, Shangguan Tou clarified that Chong Xuezhi was merely the daughter of a benefactor, and he was fulfilling a promise to protect her for a time. Lord Lu then slyly brought up Shangguan Tou's marriage prospects, but Shangguan Tou denied having a sweetheart, even as Chong Xuezhi’s image flashed through his mind, and explicitly rejected any rumors about a connection with Lin Fengzi.
After Lord Lu departed, Shangguan Xingzhou cautioned his son that Lord Lu, a master of strategy who had studied with the renowned Go Master Miaohua, was testing him. Shangguan Tou regretted his earlier candor and vowed to be more careful when dealing with members of the royal family, regardless of their familial ties. Later that evening, the Crown Prince visited Shangguan Xingzhou. He renewed his invitation for Shangguan Tou to join the imperial court and serve the country.
Shangguan Tou respectfully declined, stating his preference for a carefree life, unburdened by fame or power. He explained that having grown up in the Imperial Advisor’s mansion, he had witnessed the pursuit of such things and found them unappealing. He further asserted that if the Crown Prince were also without ambition, the common people would suffer, implying that the Crown Prince's role necessitated a drive for the betterment of the realm.
Shangguan Xingzhou, eager to curry favor with the Crown Prince, praised him profusely. This fawning behavior irritated Shangguan Tou, who abruptly excused himself from the banquet. A furious Shangguan Xingzhou followed him, scolding him for his rudeness and worrying about the consequences of offending the future ruler. Shangguan Tou retorted, accusing his father of being sycophantic and prioritizing power, reminding him that his mother's death was a direct result of his father's ambition.
He declared that he would never become an official, a stark refusal that led Shangguan Xingzhou to slap him, ending their conversation in bitter discord. Unbeknownst to them, the Crown Prince had overheard their argument and later reflected on Shangguan Tou's resemblance to a younger, more unyielding Shangguan Xingzhou, expressing a wish for his son to avoid a similar path fraught with political dangers.
As Shangguan Tou left the Imperial Teacher's Mansion, an attendant from Lord Lu’s residence intercepted him with an invitation to play chess. At that moment, Shangguan Tou received an urgent letter from Lin Changran, urging him to assist Chong Xuezhi. Without hesitation, Shangguan Tou sent word to Lord Lu, apologizing for having to postpone their game due to an emergency, and immediately departed to aid Chong Xuezhi.
He arrived at the Hall of Flames with a significant amount of silver and a team of craftsmen from Dongdu. Chong Xuezhi was initially hesitant to accept, deeming it unearned. However, Shangguan Tou explained that the assistance was officially from the Imperial Advisor’s Mansion, a gesture of goodwill to the martial arts world, especially since the Hall of Flames was forging blades for the government.
Lin Changran, Chong Xuezhi's second father, also intervened, emphasizing the dire circumstances and convincing her to accept the aid. Chong Xuezhi relented, agreeing to consider it a temporary loan to be repaid once the Hall of Flames weathered its difficulties. Before leaving, Shangguan Tou presented Chong Xuezhi with osmanthus cakes from Dongdu, a thoughtful gesture he hoped she would appreciate.
When Chong Xuezhi's second father, Lin Changran, asked about his chess game with Lord Lu, Shangguan Tou remarked that Lord Lu, a student of the revered Go Master Miaohua, was a superior player. Lin Changran then advised Shangguan Tou that one needed to be cautious and consider the entire board when playing such an opponent. Later, Lord Lu’s attendant reported Shangguan Tou’s hasty departure and the large amount of silver and men being transported to the Hall of Flames.
Lord Lu and his advisor discussed Shangguan Tou’s close ties to the Hall of Flames, and the perceived generosity of the Imperial Advisor’s Mansion. They speculated on the implications of this assistance and whether the Hall of Flames would accept aid from Lord Lu as readily as they did from Shangguan Tou, especially given the Crown Prince’s recent presence at the mansion. The advisor suggested that inviting Chong Xuezhi to Dongdu might be a more strategic move.
Lord Lu, meeting with Shangguan Tou again, reiterated his desire for Shangguan Tou’s counsel, asking about his vision for a peaceful world. Shangguan Tou spoke of a world without strife or oppression, where everyone could find contentment, though he admitted such an ideal was beyond his control. Lord Lu then proposed a method to achieve this "greater harmony," asking for Shangguan Tou's help. Shortly after, Shangguan Zheng joined them, and Shangguan Tou took the opportunity to speak with his sister.
He inquired about her well-being in Xiangzhou and her assessment of Lord Lu's character. Shangguan Zheng praised her husband as a kind, honest, and diligent man who promised never to take a concubine. She admitted that Xiangzhou was colder than Dongdu and took some getting used to. Shangguan Tou then recalled his father's earlier divination of "southwest unfavorable, northeast ominous," and a chilling realization dawned on him as he connected Xiangzhou, Lord Lu's fiefdom, to the ominous northeast warning.
He subtly questioned Shangguan Zheng if she truly understood Lord Lu. Shangguan Zheng responded that while she couldn't claim complete knowledge of him, she was willing to face any challenges with him. She then turned the conversation to Shangguan Tou's own romantic entanglements, urging him to be decisive with Chong Xuezhi, whose temperament she understood, and to mend any rifts before they became irreparable. Lord Lu, later speaking with Shangguan Zheng, expressed surprise and curiosity upon learning that Shangguan Tou had found a sweetheart.
