In And the Winner Is Love Episode 23, Shangguan Tou identifies Youli as his long-lost cousin Huan'er through a fish-shaped burn scar, explaining his painful silence. Meanwhile, Chong Xuezhi faces murder accusations at the Suzhou magistrate office, proving Mount Hua fabricated the crime to frame Chonghu Palace.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Drama Title | And the Winner Is Love (Moonlight and Valentine / 月上重火) |
| Episode Number | Episode 23 |
| Total Episodes | 48 |
| Key Characters | Shangguan Tou, Chong Xuezhi, Yuwen Muyuan, Gu Hongshiu |
| Central Martial Technique | Nine Stems of the Lotus (Lotus God Nine Stems) |
Blood at Xianshanyingzhu and the Government Connection
Shangguan Tou travels to the scenic retreat of Xianshanyingzhu after learning that Mount Hua disciple Zhang San met a gruesome death. The murder scene points straight toward Chonghu Palace because of marks resembling the forbidden martial manual, the Nine Stems of the Lotus.
"There was a five-petal lotus pattern." — Gu Hongshiu
Five distinct lotus petal patterns branded the victim's remains, prompting the martial world to accuse Chonghu Palace immediately. However, Shangguan Tou suspects an orchestrated setup rather than a rogue strike. The pattern mirrors previous chills from the cold fever plague and the poisoned schemes of Manfeiyue.
"The authorities are definitely tangled up in this." — Shangguan Tou
When Feng She inspects the gold ingots recovered from Manfeiyue, an official government seal appears stamped into the metal underside. That official mark reveals that corrupt officials inside the imperial court are quietly pulling strings behind Jianghu feuds.
The Truth Behind Youli and the Broken Trust
While Chong Xuezhi looks up at the moon alongside Yuwen Muyuan nursing her heartache, her unresolved resentment toward Shangguan Tou reaches a boiling point at Xianshanyingzhu.
"I was thinking about the fairy living on the moon." — Chong Xuezhi
Shangguan Tou arranges a private meeting at a secluded pavilion with Chonghu Palace maid Youli through Feng She. His silence at Lingjian Mountain Villa had torn his relationship with Xuezhi apart, but Episode 23 unmasks the burden he carried alone.
"She is your cousin, Huan'er." — Abbess Baiyun (flashback)
Years ago, the Emei Sect dispatched young children as undercover operatives into rival sects to survive fierce power struggles. Abbess Baiyun planted her eight-year-old niece Huan'er inside Chonghu Palace under the alias Youli.
"She left a fish-shaped mark behind." — Abbess Baiyun (flashback)
Spotting the distinct fish-shaped burn scar on Youli's right arm confirms her identity as his cousin. Shangguan Tou kept silent not to protect a secret romance, but to shield an innocent spy whose exposure would mean instant execution.
Confrontation, Pride, and Yuwen Muyuan's Warning
Gu Hongshiu steps in to arrange a meeting so the estranged pair can clear the air, but wounded pride keeps Xuezhi guarded.
"Your real heart remains completely invisible." — Chong Xuezhi
What hurt Xuezhi was not the rumor itself, but feeling shut out from Shangguan Tou's inner world. Even when the entire martial community branded her a demoness, she had anchored her trust in him.
"The only thing I cared about was how you looked at me." — Shangguan Tou
Shangguan Tou admits his hesitation stemmed from vulnerability. He feared losing her respect if she discovered the painful history tied to his family. Still hurt, Xuezhi invokes the classic parting oath to forget each other across the rivers and lakes before walking away.
Outside the inn courtyard, Yuwen Muyuan confronts Shangguan Tou with escalating hostility.
"I will not yield Xuezhi to anyone." — Yuwen Muyuan
Yuwen Muyuan demands that Shangguan Tou back away, declaring him unworthy of Xuezhi. His possessive stance oversteps ordinary loyalty as Chonghu Palace's Grand Protector, hinting at fissures brewing within their leadership.
The Magistrate Ambush and the Mount Hua Conspiracy
Persuaded by Gu Hongshiu to hear him out, Xuezhi dresses in formal crimson robes and approaches Shangguan Tou to listen to his explanation.
"I came to hear your explanation." — Chong Xuezhi
Before the two can reconcile, armed soldiers from the Suzhou magistrate office storm the courtyard, arresting Xuezhi for the Xianshanyingzhu slaying.
"While the Nine Stems of the Lotus belongs to Chonghu Palace, the manual was stolen, meaning others practice it as well." — Chong Xuezhi
In the magistrate court, Xuezhi stands firm. She points out that the stolen manual created multiple practitioners across Jianghu and produces proof of her whereabouts at Chonghu Palace during the killing. The deceased Zhang San's kin break down and confess they took bribes to point fingers, exposing Mount Hua's Feng Sheng as the true culprit who butchered his own sect brother to frame Chonghu Palace.
Although Xuezhi walks free, Shangguan Tou senses an ominous presence behind the frame-up. Sacrificing a Mount Hua disciple signals an unseen mastermind eager to set martial sects against one another. If you want a detailed look at the costume design featured throughout this dramatic confrontation, check out the And the Winner Is Love Episode 23 Outfits guide. For how this royal plot expands in future confrontations, follow along with the Episode 25 recap and Episode 26 ending analysis.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Youli in And the Winner Is Love Episode 23?
Youli is revealed to be Shangguan Tou's long-lost maternal cousin, Huan'er. She was sent into Chonghu Palace as a child spy by Abbess Baiyun of the Emei Sect. Shangguan Tou confirms her identity by examining a fish-shaped burn scar on her right arm.
Why was Chong Xuezhi arrested at Xianshanyingzhu?
The Suzhou magistrate soldiers arrested Chong Xuezhi after Mount Hua disciple Zhang San was murdered with wounds resembling Chonghu Palace's Nine Stems of the Lotus technique. The accusation fell apart when Zhang San's family confessed they accepted bribes, proving Mount Hua's Feng Sheng staged the homicide.
What links the martial arts murders to the imperial government?
Gold ingots recovered from the poisoner Manfeiyue bear official magistrate seals. This discovery confirms to Shangguan Tou that court officials are financing covert unrest to destabilize Jianghu sects.