In And the Winner Is Love Episode 24, Chong Xuezhi defeats a false murder accusation in Suzhou when Shangguan Tou captures Feng Mo and proves the victim died from blunt force trauma rather than the Lotus Nine Stance technique. Meanwhile, Abbess Yuan confesses her past framing of Shangguan Tou, and Feng Cheng leads a coalition raid directly against Chonghu Palace.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Drama Title | And the Winner Is Love |
| Episode Number | Episode 24 |
| Total Episodes | 48 Episodes |
| Lead Cast | Luo Yunxi (Shangguan Tou), Chen Yuqi (Chong Xuezhi), Zou Tingwei (Yuwen Muyuan) |
| Primary Antagonist | Feng Cheng (Huashan Sect Leader) |
The Suzhou Magistrate Trap and Chong Xuezhi's Arrest
Episode 24 throws Chong Xuezhi straight into jeopardy before the Suzhou magistrate, facing charges for the murder of Zhang Shan. The prosecution alleges that Zhang Shan perished by the forbidden martial art technique known as the Lotus Nine Stance, a secret manuscript tied to the Chonghu Palace.
Chong Xuezhi maintains her innocence on two solid grounds: the manual had been stolen years earlier—meaning other martial artists could potentially know the technique—and she was physically present at Chonghu Palace during the murder. The magistrate dismisses her testimony due to lack of physical proof.
Supported by Yuwen Muyuan, Chong Xuezhi demands an immediate post-mortem examination in open court. Examining the lotus mark on the victim's neck, she exposes physical inconsistencies: real internal qi strikes cause concentrated blood coagulation, whereas this mark exhibits swollen edges and slight scabbing, indicating an artificial burn applied right before death. When the magistrate cynically demands she demonstrate the fatal stance on a death row inmate to verify the wound pattern, she refuses to harm an innocent life and accepts detention in the magistrate lockup instead.
Shangguan Tou's Calculated Countermove and Exoneration
Behind the scenes, Shangguan Tou deploys his attendant Wu Ming to shadow the Huashan sect operative Feng Mo, who was dispatched to dispose of key evidence.
Shangguan Tou secures an official coroner ruling demonstrating that Zhang Shan died from a blunt force impact to the back of the head, not internal energy strikes. He also extracts confessions from the victim's bribed family members, completely collapsing the magistrate's case against Chong Xuezhi.
Upon her release, Chong Xuezhi learns that Shangguan Tou engineered the entire legal breakthrough, deepening the unspoken bond between them.
For viewers examining the intricate attire and hair accessories worn throughout these judicial confrontations, see our style breakdown in And the Winner Is Love Episode 24 Outfits: Martial Hanfu Layers and Hairpin Details.
The Lingjian Mountain Plot: Abbess Yuan's Confession
The narrative then resolves the longstanding grievance that had alienated Shangguan Tou from polite martial society years earlier. Abbess Yuan, mentor to Lin Fengzi, extracts Feng Mo from custody and ambushes Shangguan Tou by sealing his acupoints.
Under the belief that she holds the upper hand, Abbess Yuan confesses her historical deceit. Years earlier, while attempting to steal the Lotus Nine Stance from Lingjian Mountain Manor, she faced discovery by Shangguan Tou. To eliminate him, she exploited Lin Fengzi's innocent affection by spiking their drinks with an aphrodisiac, staging a scandalous scene to ensure his banishment.
Her singular motivation was aiding her secret lover, Huashan leader Feng Cheng, in weakening potential rivals.
Lin Fengzi overhears the entire exchange in horror, unsealing Shangguan Tou's acupoints while begging for absolution. Rather than seeking vengeance, Shangguan Tou demonstrates personal detachment, stating he had already moved past the incident, though he warns that further villainy against the martial world will meet strict reckoning.
Prince Lu's Shadow and the Siege of Chonghu Palace
While legal drama played out in Suzhou, two structural threats converged. Yuwen Muyuan quietly met with a mysterious emissary dispatched from Shangzhou representing Prince Lu's estate. Shangguan Tou observes the covert interaction, expressing trust that Yuwen Muyuan would not directly hurt Chong Xuezhi, yet recognizing that royal court politics are complicating martial conflicts.
The murder charge served as a diversionary tactic. By keeping Chong Xuezhi detained in Suzhou, Feng Cheng coordinated Huashan and Emei sect forces to attack an under-defended Chonghu Palace.
Feng Cheng breaches the central hall, intending to wipe out Chonghu Palace under the pretext of an ancestral feud.
Chong Xuezhi rushes back to confront the invaders, preparing to deploy her martial skill to preserve her lineage.
To trace how this factional struggle and royal intrigue develop in subsequent conflicts, explore our analysis in And the Winner Is Love Episode 25 Ending Explained: Prince Lu's Court Trap and Chonghu Palace's Crisis and follow the broader political web in And the Winner Is Love Episode 26 Ending Explained: Prince Lu's Ambition and the Chessboard Clues.
Frequently asked questions
How did Chong Xuezhi prove she did not kill Zhang Shan in Suzhou?
She identified that the lotus mark on the victim's neck showed burn characteristics like swelling and scabbing, unlike true energy strikes. Shangguan Tou then obtained an official coroner examination confirming Zhang Shan died from a skull fracture caused by blunt trauma, supported by confessions from bribed witnesses.
Why was Shangguan Tou framed at Lingjian Mountain Manor years ago?
Abbess Yuan drugged Shangguan Tou and Lin Fengzi with an aphrodisiac to stage a compromising encounter. She engineered his exile to protect her own theft of the Lotus Nine Stance manual on behalf of Huashan Sect Leader Feng Cheng.
What was the real strategic objective behind the Suzhou murder accusation?
The lawsuit was a diversionary maneuver designed to trap Chong Xuezhi at the Suzhou yamen, preventing her from defending Chonghu Palace while Feng Cheng and allied forces stormed the headquarters.