And the Winner Is Love Episode 48 (Ending) Recap
> And the Winner Is Love Recap
Chong Xuezhi confronted Lord Lu, accusing him of killing Yuwen Muyuan and tarnishing his reputation. Lord Lu, asserting his royal status as the Emperor's son and the Crown Prince's brother, dismissed her accusations. However, Shangguan Tou countered, revealing that Lord Lu's men, caught transporting Black Fires, had confessed everything in Dongdu prison. He also presented Yuwen Muyuan's handwritten Black Fire formula as concrete evidence.
Despite this, Lord Lu remained defiant, laughing at their "naivety" and stating that his royal identity would protect him even if he managed the martial arts world or concocted Black Fires. Just then, the Crown Prince arrived. He told Lord Lu that he was aware of his brother's actions and urged him to return to Dongdu to face their father's judgment. Lord Lu refused, drawing a dagger and taking the Crown Prince hostage, warning everyone not to approach.
Unperturbed, the Crown Prince calmly engaged his brother in conversation, eventually persuading him to return to the capital. However, instead of immediately returning, Lord Lu, still holding the Crown Prince, led them to the Tomb of Wife of Lord Lu, Shangguan Zheng. There, he mourned his deceased wife, Zheng, and their unborn child, lamenting his lost dreams. He tearfully asked the Crown Prince to help him name their child.
The Crown Prince, trying to bring his brother back to reality, gently told him that his nephew would not want to see his father in such a state. Lord Lu finally broke down, acknowledging his mistakes. He feared his father's punishment, but the Crown Prince promised to intercede on his behalf, urging him to accept the law's judgment.
After Lord Lu was taken into custody, the Crown Prince publicly apologized to the martial arts world for his brother's crimes and his own failure to guide him. He then clarified Yuwen Muyuan's innocence, stating that Xia Qingmei had succumbed to madness and taken his own life, having nothing to do with Muyuan.
He confirmed that Muyuan had only feigned allegiance to Lord Lu to expose his schemes, having secretly killed Feng Mo, Lord Lu's henchman, and relayed vital information to Shangguan Tou during Xia Qingmei's rampage. The Crown Prince expressed his regret for Muyuan's tragic fate and offered his apologies to Hall of Flames. Chong Xuezhi thanked the Crown Prince for clearing Yuwen Muyuan's name.
The Crown Prince then decreed the immediate dissolution of the Sects Alliance, prohibiting any organization from impeding the development of various sects, and encouraged them to rebuild, regain their spirit, practice martial arts, nurture talent, and promote Chinese martial arts for generations to come. Later, the Crown Prince met privately with Shangguan Tou and Chong Xuezhi.
He handed Chong Xuezhi the manual for the "Nine Moves of Lotus God," which had been found during the search of Lord Lu's mansion, suspecting Lord Lu had acquired it from Xia Qingmei. He acknowledged it as Hall of Flames' property and allowed Chong Xuezhi to decide its fate. Chong Xuezhi, declaring that the manual had caused too much conflict and suffering, promptly burned it, ensuring that no one would be harmed by the Nine Moves of Lotus God again.
The Crown Prince was deeply impressed by her "brave and generous spirit," calling her a true heroine. Shangguan Tou, echoing this sentiment, proclaimed that meeting Xuezhi was his greatest fortune. Chong Xuezhi and Shangguan Tou then knelt, requesting the Crown Prince to permit the rebuilding of Hall of Flames, citing its importance for national defense and public welfare.
The Crown Prince, acknowledging the gravity of the matter, stated that he would discuss it in detail with the Emperor after escorting Lord Lu back to Dongdu, but promised to do his utmost. Before departing, he invited Shangguan Tou to visit his old home, the Imperial Teacher's Mansion, as his father's case was being re-investigated. Shangguan Tou took Chong Xuezhi back to his long-abandoned Imperial Teacher’s Mansion.
Standing before his father's memorial tablet, he expressed his profound emotion at finally bringing his beloved back, though he grieved the absence of his father and sister. He affirmed to his father that Chong Xuezhi was the "only one whom I will love for the rest of my life."
Chong Xuezhi, in turn, vowed to Shangguan Tou's father that she would stay with Shangguan Tou forever, take good care of him, and that Hall of Flames would now be his home. Shangguan Tou, however, sensed her lingering attachment to Hall of Flames. He reminded her of their previous promise to live a peaceful life in Moon Valley, away from worldly affairs.
Chong Xuezhi admitted she remembered, but felt she couldn't abandon Hall of Flames, her father's lifelong work, and couldn't let down Yuwen Muyuan, who had entrusted it to her. Shangguan Tou reflected on his own family's tragedies, which had taught him how quickly everything could be lost. He expressed his weariness of the endless struggles of the martial arts world, yearning only for a "peaceful and simple happiness" with her.
He urged her to deeply consider what she truly desired, assuring her that both Chong Ye and Yuwen Muyuan would want her to find true happiness. Meanwhile, Lin Fengzi, now pregnant, often visited a martial arts training ground, reminiscing about her childhood with Xia Qingmei. After all that had transpired, she had come to accept that her husband would not return, and she found strength in awaiting the birth of their child.
As Chong Xuezhi, Zhu Sha, and Che Qu traveled back to Hall of Flames, Zhu Sha and Che Qu eagerly discussed rebuilding plans for the ancestral hall and the blacksmithing workshop, and reburying Yuwen Muyuan's remains within the palace grounds. Chong Xuezhi listened quietly, her thoughts distant. She asked to make a detour to the small wooden cabin she had once shared with Yuwen Muyuan. There, she discovered a letter he had left for her.
In it, Yuwen Muyuan expressed his heartfelt wish for her to live a free life, "with your loved one forever and always be happy." After much reflection, Chong Xuezhi made a decisive choice. She informed Zhu Sha that she would not be returning to Hall of Flames as its leader.
She explained that her plea to the Crown Prince to reopen the palace was driven by a desire for the organization to benefit the country and its people, not for personal ambition. She then appointed Zhu Sha as the new leader of Hall of Flames, emphasizing the importance of new blood and leadership. With her decision made, Chong Xuezhi set off for Moon Valley to reunite with Shangguan Tou.
Shangguan Tou was ecstatic to see Chong Xuezhi and immediately began preparing for their wedding. On the day of their marriage, Zhu Sha, Hongxiu, and others helped Chong Xuezhi get ready. As she looked at her reflection, Chong Xuezhi mused that entering the martial arts world seemed daunting in her youth, but leaving it proved to be the true challenge. She felt profound contentment, having found her life's true love.
Before the ceremony, she donned the earrings Yuwen Muyuan had specially prepared as her dowry. Suddenly, Che Qu burst in, breathless, announcing that Shangguan Tou had vanished from Moon Valley. He recounted Shangguan Tou reciting a perplexing poem: "The peach tree is with luxuriant foliage and the flowers are lush. The girl who will marry will live a happy life." Recognizing the poetic clue, Chong Xuezhi rushed to the peach blossom forest, calling out Shangguan Tou's name.
Moments later, Shangguan Tou emerged, explaining that he simply wanted to share this beautiful, intimate moment with her, away from any distractions. Dressed in his wedding finery, he declared his love for her, and they shared a tender embrace and kiss, vowing to be together for eternity.
