And the Winner Is Love Episode 29 Recap
> And the Winner Is Love Recap
After recovering from his injuries, Shangguan Tou decided to travel to Xianshan Yingzhou. He informed Mr. Lin of his plans, explaining that he suspected a long-running conspiracy between Lord Lu and Feng Cheng, and hoped to find clues in Xianshan Yingzhou's historical records. He assured Mr. Lin that his inner injuries had healed and Wuming was watching Huashan, so he was free to investigate. At Xianshan Yingzhou, Shangguan Tou meticulously reviewed old records of troop deployments.
He noticed a pattern: Lord Lu had repeatedly deployed small numbers of troops under various pretexts, such as flood control. While each deployment seemed innocuous on its own, when viewed together, they revealed that imperial soldiers had been stationed in the territories of nearly all major martial arts sects, including Huashan, Emei, and Shangqing. Shangguan Tou concluded that Lord Lu was covertly monitoring the entire martial arts world.
His companion, Hongxiu, was astonished, noting that the court and the Jianghu had always maintained a strict separation, but Shangguan Tou scoffed, believing Lord Lu clearly harbored different intentions. Meanwhile, Zhu Sha was conversing with Zhong Xuezhi, admiring the new hairpin Yuwen Muyuan had given her. Zhu Sha openly praised Yuwen Muyuan's unwavering kindness and devotion, even pointing out that everyone, including the dull-witted Chequ, could see his affection for Zhong Xuezhi.
She urged Zhong Xuezhi to consider Yuwen Muyuan, highlighting his reliability and consistent protection, especially compared to Shangguan Tou, whose intentions she found ambiguous and difficult to discern. She stressed the importance of choosing a dependable partner for a lifelong commitment. Yuwen Muyuan, reflecting on his promise to restore Heavy Fire Palace, confided in Chequ. He lamented that nearly two years had passed, and the sect had only faced more tribulations, almost being destroyed by Huashan.
He asked Chequ how he would protect someone he wished to guard for life. When Chequ simply stated he would marry Zhu Sha and care for her forever, Chequ turned the question back to Yuwen Muyuan, suggesting he wished to protect Zhong Xuezhi. Yuwen Muyuan, frustrated, wondered why Zhong Xuezhi, being intelligent, couldn't see his feelings when even a "blockhead" like Chequ could. Later, Yuwen Muyuan purchased osmanthus cakes for Zhong Xuezhi, a treat she enjoyed.
He reminisced about his godfather entrusting him with her care years ago. He then poured out his heart, expressing how terrified he had been during her recent ordeal and how he could no longer bear the thought of anyone harming her. He clarified that his deepest desire was to protect "her", not just Heavy Fire Palace. He acknowledged that she might only see him as a brother or guardian due to his position, but revealed his long-standing, deeper affections.
He earnestly asked to shed his role as a brother and protect her for the rest of her life as her lover. Zhong Xuezhi, visibly moved but conflicted, confessed that she still couldn't forget Shangguan Tou and needed more time to heal her emotional wounds, making it impossible to give Yuwen Muyuan any promises at that moment. Yuwen Muyuan understood her predicament, assuring her he wasn't asking her to forget Shangguan Tou, but simply wanted to spare her further sorrow.
He gently urged her to look toward the future. Zhong Xuezhi remarked on some people who hold onto someone despite not loving them, to which Yuwen Muyuan poignantly countered that some people cherish another deeply but cannot possess them. Feng Mo arrived at Lord Lu's mansion, requesting an audience. Lord Lu, initially furious about Feng Mo's unannounced visit and fearing exposure, chastised him.
Feng Mo, however, reassured Lord Lu that only he and his late father were privy to their secret alliance. He pledged to continue his father's work, serve Lord Lu, eradicate Heavy Fire Palace, and avenge his father's death. Mollified, Lord Lu acknowledged Feng Cheng's funeral arrangements were completed and, expressing feigned sympathy for Feng Cheng's demise, assigned Feng Mo a task, hinting that it would fulfill his desire for revenge.
Shangguan Tou continued to discuss his strategies against Lord Lu with Hongxiu. Hongxiu, finding him hesitant, urged him to adopt a proactive approach, identifying Lord Lu's weaknesses and striking first. She then pressed him about his relationship with Zhong Xuezhi, remarking on their prolonged "cooling off" period and his failure to explain himself. She warned him about Yuwen Muyuan's evident affection for Zhong Xuezhi, implying that inaction could lead to unforeseen complications.
Shangguan Tou maintained that Zhong Xuezhi's current precarious situation meant her safety with Yuwen Muyuan at Heavy Fire Palace was paramount. He admitted that the chaos in Huashan was indirectly his fault, stemming from his sister Shangguan Zheng's invitation to Dongdu. He worried that Lord Lu, who had attempted to subdue the sects under the guise of mediation at a banquet, would harbor resentment towards Zhong Xuezhi for her public rejection, endangering her further.
Shangguan Tou vowed to uncover Lord Lu's true intentions before returning to Zhong Xuezhi to explain everything. Hongxiu challenged him, asking if he feared being replaced in Zhong Xuezhi's heart. Shangguan Tou firmly declared his trust in Zhong Xuezhi and the strength of their relationship, but Hongxiu cautioned him against prioritizing the future over the present, warning that even the deepest affections could wane with time and distance.
Wuming reported to Shangguan Tou that Feng Mo had indeed met with Lord Lu and emerged from the mansion looking pleased, suggesting a successful agreement. Shangguan Tou pondered what a commoner like Feng Mo could offer a prince like Lord Lu. He speculated that Feng Mo's true target for revenge might not just be Yuwen Muyuan, but the entire Heavy Fire Palace, tracing the feud back to the founder Chong Ye.
Considering how Heavy Fire Palace and Huashan had weakened each other, Shangguan Tou concluded that Lord Lu's ultimate aim was not merely the Heavy Fire Palace, but domination over the entire martial arts world. Shangguan Tou immediately conveyed his alarming suspicions to his father, Shangguan Xingzhou, explaining Lord Lu's troop movements and his belief that Lord Lu was the mastermind behind Feng Cheng and Man Feiyue.
Shangguan Xingzhou revealed that his own recent divination had yielded a disturbing omen: "turbulent water, fish dead," which he interpreted as the court (water) engulfing the martial arts world (fish) in a coming disaster. He recognized Lord Lu's cunning strategy: to incite conflict among the sects, allowing the court to reap the benefits. Shangguan Xingzhou declared that as Shangguan Tou was not a court official and Moon Valley remained secluded, he would personally intervene.
He planned to visit Lord Lu under the pretext of discussing the new imperial tax laws. Shangguan Tou insisted on accompanying his father, also wanting to visit his sister, Shangguan Zheng. Before their departure, Shangguan Xingzhou, with a hint of foreboding, asked Shangguan Tou to promise that he and Zheng would always protect each other, should anything happen to him. At Lord Lu's mansion, Shangguan Xingzhou and Lord Lu engaged in a tense, subtly adversarial conversation.
Lord Lu expressed surprise at the Imperial Advisor's unexpected visit to Xiangzhou. Shangguan Xingzhou feigned a visit purely for official business concerning the new tax reforms. Lord Lu, with thinly veiled sarcasm, suggested Shangguan Xingzhou handle the tax matters himself so that Lord Lu could spend more time with his wife, Shangguan Zheng. Shangguan Xingzhou praised Lord Lu for his perceived "non-contending" nature, but Lord Lu immediately corrected him, stating his intention was to "take it himself."
Lord Lu elaborated on his cynical view of humanity, equating people to greedy fish that, without rules, would descend into chaos. He openly declared that the martial arts sects, originally formed during times of war, were now obsolete in a peaceful era and posed a threat to stability, thus deserving to be brought under government control. Shangguan Xingzhou realized that Lord Lu was unyielding in his ambitious plans.
Lord Lu then attempted to solicit Shangguan Xingzhou's allegiance, but the Imperial Advisor politely declined, expressing his preference for the freedom of the unconstrained wild, an analogy for the independent martial arts world. Shangguan Tou visited his sister, Shangguan Zheng, who was relieved to hear Zhong Xuezhi was safe and had been rescued by Yuwen Muyuan, with Feng Cheng now dead. Shangguan Zheng acknowledged Yuwen Muyuan's deep feelings for Zhong Xuezhi, noting his possessiveness.
She advised Shangguan Tou to quickly reconcile with Zhong Xuezhi, reminding him that while his protective actions were evident, Zhong Xuezhi's own protection of him at the banquet, by preventing him from following her, was to avoid embarrassing Zheng and her husband. Shangguan Zheng urged her brother to end his hesitation, warning that while love can withstand trials, human nature is fragile, and prolonged absence could lead to Zhong Xuezhi's heart growing cold.
After Shangguan Xingzhou departed, Lord Lu's houseguest advised extreme caution against harming the Imperial Advisor, citing his vital role in the court, his close ties to the Emperor, his mentorship of the Crown Prince, and his familial connection as Lord Lu's father-in-law. The guest warned that such an act could be perceived as a direct challenge to the Crown Prince or even the Emperor. Lord Lu, angered by the counsel, vehemently asserted his authority over his subordinate.
He dismissed Shangguan Xingzhou's influence, questioning the true extent of his "roots" and declaring that all land ultimately belonged to the emperor, implying he saw Shangguan Xingzhou as a stubborn obstacle. Lord Lu interpreted Shangguan Xingzhou's visit as a clear message that the Shangguan family was formally distancing themselves from him, solidifying his resolve to eliminate the Imperial Advisor.
