And the Winner Is Love Episode 4 Recap
> And the Winner Is Love Recap
Shangguan Tou openly told Zhong Xuezhi that he was entrusted by a benefactor to protect her. Surprised, Zhong Xuezhi inquired about the identity of this person, but Shangguan Tou only replied that she would know one day. He emphasized that his savior told him the Hall of Flames was in a difficult situation, and as she was naive, she would face many dangers.
Shangguan Tou then promised to protect her from any harm and asked her to keep this revelation a secret. Zhong Xuezhi, happily carrying the rabbit-shaped lantern Shangguan Tou had given her, felt her heart stir. Later that night, back at the inn, Zhong Xuezhi's companions noticed her unusual happiness, correctly guessing that the lantern was a gift from Shangguan Tou. The next day, Shangguan Tou encountered a young beggar on the street.
He observed the boy sketching a scene of the Hero Assembly at Luduan Temple, which included a figure lurking suspiciously outside the temple. Shangguan Tou asked the boy about the figure, and the boy identified him as Wang Yinya, confirming he had seen Wang Yinya at Luduan Temple on the night of the Hero Assembly.
Shangguan Tou brought the boy to Zhong Xuezhi and her guardians, explaining that Wang Yinya's suspicious behavior near the room where the Nine Moves of Lotus God was kept made him a prime suspect. He also revealed that Wang Yinya had not returned to the Silver Whip School but had instead traveled northeast. One of Zhong Xuezhi's guardians then suggested he might be visiting his junior, Fu Yiya, in Xiangzhou.
Zhong Xuezhi, eager to prove her sect's innocence, decided to go to Xiangzhou to investigate, dismissing the suggestion to report to the elders first and stating she would rely on her own abilities. Meanwhile, Yu Wan reported to Yuwen Zhongsong that Yuwen Muyuan had gone to Sword Manor with Xia Qingmei instead of returning to the Hall of Flames. Yuwen Zhongsong, who harbored ambitions for his grandson to succeed as palace lord while Zhong Xuezhi was away, saw an opportunity.
He instructed Yu Wan to trick Yuwen Muyuan into returning by falsely claiming that Yuwen Zhongsong was gravely ill and near death. At Sword Manor, Yuwen Muyuan was discussing the missing manual with Lin Zongxing, who, as a close friend of the late Chong Ye, offered his full support. Yu Wan soon found Yuwen Muyuan and delivered the fabricated news of Yuwen Zhongsong's severe illness, even mentioning he was spitting blood.
Without suspicion, Yuwen Muyuan immediately hurried back to the Hall of Flames. Xiangzhou was the fiefdom of Lord Lu, the Emperor's second son, whose wife, Shangguan Zheng, was Shangguan Tou’s elder sister. Recently, Xiangzhou had been hit by continuous heavy rains, causing widespread flooding and displacing many people.
Lord Lu, feeling helpless, expressed his sorrow over the suffering of his people and his own perceived uselessness in not being able to alleviate their plight, especially given his heart condition and concerns about a potential plague. Shangguan Zheng comforted him, suggesting he write to the Crown Prince for aid, as disaster relief required extensive resources and experience.
Lord Lu, while acknowledging his need for help, hesitated to seek assistance from his brother, but Shangguan Zheng continued to urge him to prioritize his health. In Dongdu, the Crown Prince, Xue Xin, also learned of the severe flooding in Xiangzhou and grew worried about his brother, Lord Lu, who lacked experience in disaster relief. He ordered his attendants to send a message to Xiangzhou, offering any necessary support from Dongdu.
Shangguan Tou informed Zhong Xuezhi that the following day would be the full moon celebration for Fu Yiya's son, and Wang Yinya would undoubtedly attend. Shangguan Tou mentioned that Wang Yinya and Fu Yiya had a history of animosity, making Wang Yinya's attendance unusual. He added that he already had invitations to the event. Their conversation, however, was secretly overheard by Liu Li, a guardian from the Hall of Flames.
Upon arriving at the Hall of Flames, Yuwen Muyuan found Yuwen Zhongsong feigning extreme illness, easily deceiving his grandson. Yuwen Zhongsong then pleaded with Yuwen Muyuan to remain and manage the Hall, citing his own failing health and the precarious situation of the sect given the missing manual. He expressed concern that other sects might cause trouble and that he was too weak to fight.
Yuwen Muyuan, seeing his grandfather’s supposed weakness and the sect's instability, promised to protect the Hall and remained. The next day, Shangguan Tou and Zhong Xuezhi attended the celebration at Fu’s Mansion. They observed Wang Yinya, who appeared unusually pleasant and lacked his customary silver whip. This struck them as odd, leading them to suspect something was amiss, with Shangguan Tou declaring the man had a problem. While discussing this over tea, Lord Lu’s sedan passed by.
Shangguan Tou quickly concealed his face with his fan, but Shangguan Zheng, from inside the sedan, caught a glimpse of him. Zhong Xuezhi, curious about Shangguan Tou’s dual identity, asked if he was a martial artist or a court official. Shangguan Tou smiled, stating he belonged to neither faction, his sole concern being Zhong Xuezhi's safety. He further explained that imperial relatives varied, some honored and some isolated.
His Shangguan family, though connected through his sister as Lord Lu's consort, was among the latter, as Lord Lu, being the Emperor's second and not main lineage son, was sidelined by the Empress and lacked support in court. Later that evening, Zhong Xuezhi and Shangguan Tou returned to Fu’s Mansion to confront Fu Yiya directly about Wang Yinya and the stolen Nine Moves of Lotus God.
Fu Yiya denied any involvement, emphasizing his long retirement from the martial world, but Shangguan Tou pressed him, pointing out Wang Yinya's suspicious presence at Luduan Temple on the night the manual was stolen.
