And the Winner Is Love Episode 36 Recap
> And the Winner Is Love Recap
Yuwen Muyuan returned to his residence and found Taishi Cheng waiting for him. Taishi Cheng, a guest of Lord Lu from Xiangzhou, had come to persuade Yuwen Muyuan to join Lord Lu's faction. Yuwen Muyuan was dismissive, questioning Lord Lu's repeated attempts to recruit him with different envoys and words, expecting different results. He declared that the hatred for his sect's destruction was an unbearable pain that he would never forget and would eventually avenge.
Taishi Cheng then revealed that Lord Lu, who had brought about the Hall of Flames' destruction, also possessed the power to rebuild it. He promised that Lord Lu would restore the Hall of Flames to its former glory within three years, and if Yuwen Muyuan pledged allegiance, he would be made the new leader of this restored, untainted Hall of Flames.
Despite the tempting offer, Yuwen Muyuan curtly refused, stating that the Hall of Flames already had a leader and Lord Lu's concern was unnecessary. Taishi Cheng then changed tactics, revealing that Zhong Xuezhi and Shangguan Tou had sustained severe injuries during their attempt to free someone from the execution ground and now had little time left. He added that there would be no second Imperial Advisor to save them if they were caught again.
Yuwen Muyuan's heart sank, and he tried to press for more details, but Taishi Cheng abruptly left. Before leaving, Taishi Cheng further implied that thanks to the kindness of the Wangfei, they had narrowly escaped and were now flying wing-to-wing in exile, but he added a veiled threat that soon, Yuwen Muyuan would no longer mourn for his "old love" as she would be "dying."
Yuwen Muyuan angrily demanded to know what he meant, but Taishi Cheng left without further explanation. Later, Taishi Cheng reported to Lord Lu, confirming Yuwen Muyuan's deep attachment to Zhong Xuezhi. He explained that by informing Yuwen Muyuan of Zhong Xuezhi's impending death, he was gambling that her critical condition would serve as leverage to bring him under Lord Lu's control. Lord Lu, intrigued, agreed to see if Taishi Cheng's gamble would pay off. Meanwhile, Zhong Xuezhi's condition worsened.
Hongxiu visited her, noting her frailty. Zhong Xuezhi confessed that she chose to leave Moon Valley, Shangguan Tou's only sanctuary, because she feared her death there would inflict unbearable pain upon him, leaving him unable to move on. She wanted to depart peacefully, like a leaf turning to dust.
Recognizing her deteriorating health, Zhong Xuezhi tearfully pleaded with Hongxiu to help Shangguan Tou find a new beloved after she was gone, stressing that he shouldn't live a lonely life for her. Hongxiu, though saddened, tried to reassure her, saying that this was Shangguan Tou's own problem to face and she shouldn't worry about it. Shangguan Tou later returned, bringing her beautiful flowers, which she praised. He reassured her that he would stay by her side.
Separately, Lord Lu discovered his wife, Shangguan Zheng, had taken her own life. He found her clutching a tiny piece of baby clothing and summoned her servant, Fang Yue, to confirm his tragic realization: Shangguan Zheng had been nearly three months pregnant with his child. Fang Yue tearfully confirmed the pregnancy, explaining that Shangguan Zheng had forbidden her from revealing it.
Overcome with grief and rage, Lord Lu shattered nearby furniture, vowing to make Shangguan Tou pay for the loss of his wife and unborn child. Shangguan Tou, desperate to save Zhong Xuezhi, consulted ancient records with Hongxiu. They uncovered that the founder of the Swallow Sect originated from the foreign Moyan Sect and had brought a sacred item, the Tianling Stone, capable of curing all injuries, to the Central Plains, which was known for its healing properties.
The founder's mother was a Central Plains person, and bothered by his heritage, he stole the stone. Noting that the Warriors in Black, who inflicted the Wuse Skill injury on Zhong Xuezhi, also employed Moyan Sect martial arts, Shangguan Tou deduced that the Tianling Stone should be able to cure the Wuse Skill. He learned that the Stone was passed down through generations of Swallow Sect leaders, and currently, Yuan Shuangshuang was its custodian.
Realizing the urgency, Shangguan Tou decided to immediately go to Sword Manor to seek out Yuan Shuangshuang. Before leaving, he asked Hongxiu to continue his daily ritual of placing a flower by Zhong Xuezhi's pillow, a promise he wanted to keep. Hongxiu assured him she would. Unbeknownst to Shangguan Tou, Yuan Shuangshuang had already given the Tianling Stone to her disciple, Lin Fengzi.
Yuan Shuangshuang visited Lin Fengzi at Sword Manor, announcing her decision to disband the Swallow Sect and retire from the martial arts world, feeling there was nothing left for her in Jianghu after Feng Cheng's death. She entrusted the Tianling Stone to Lin Fengzi, confident in her ability to protect it, and promised to visit on her birthday each year. Upon Shangguan Tou's arrival at Sword Manor, Lin Zongxing, Lin Fengzi's father, confronted him.
Lin Zongxing admitted that Fengzi had clarified the past events, revealing he had wronged Shangguan Tou. He was willing to let bygones be bygones, especially since Fengzi had already suffered public humiliation over their cancelled engagement due to Shangguan Tou. He appealed to Shangguan Tou, as a father, to avoid any further contact with Fengzi, who was just beginning to recover her spirits.
Shangguan Tou reassured Lin Zongxing that he had always regarded Lin Fengzi as a sister, harboring no romantic feelings, as his heart already belonged to someone else. He clarified that he had come to Sword Manor specifically to seek the Tianling Stone from Yuan Shuangshuang, who he believed was still its custodian.
Overhearing their conversation, Lin Fengzi interjected, asserting her right as the chief disciple of the Swallow Sect to handle matters concerning its sacred relic, the Tianling Stone, which her master, Yuan Shuangshuang, had entrusted to her. She led Shangguan Tou to Jade Hall. There, Lin Fengzi, still clinging to a sliver of hope that he might have come for her, asked why he needed the stone.
Shangguan Tou, in a rare display of vulnerability, confessed that Zhong Xuezhi was suffering from the Wuse Skill, and only the Tianling Stone, even if it meant its destruction, could save her, as she was nearing her end. Knowing that destroying the sacred stone was a monumental request, he pleaded with Lin Fengzi, offering to do anything in return. Lin Fengzi, taken aback by his desperation, asked for a hug, which he gave.
She then made a more significant request: she asked if he would marry her. Shangguan Tou, without hesitation, stated that while he had never compared her to Zhong Xuezhi and they held different places in his heart, he would willingly marry her if it meant saving Zhong Xuezhi.
Moved by his profound and unwavering love for Zhong Xuezhi, Lin Fengzi, her eyes welling up, took out the Tianling Stone, which she had kept close since her master gave it to her. She handed it to him, declaring their past debts settled and wishing him well, explaining that she couldn't bear to see him suffer the loss of Zhong Xuezhi. Shangguan Tou expressed his heartfelt gratitude before leaving. Later, Lin Fengzi sat alone, melancholic.
Xia Qingmei approached her, having just learned of Shangguan Tou's visit. Noticing her sadness, he gently inquired if she was still troubled by Shangguan Tou. Lin Fengzi confided that she had finally decided to let him go. She admitted that for years, she had considered him the most perfect man and had loved him for ten years, but seeing him so vulnerable and desperate to save Zhong Xuezhi made her realize her "love" for him was merely a "childhood obsession."
She expressed shame for her past actions, even contemplating sacrificing her reputation to win him over. Xia Qingmei, however, reassured her, telling her he had never been disappointed or looked down on her, only concerned for her well-being.
