In And the Winner Is Love Episode 26, Prince Lu tests Shangguan Tou during a chess match at the State Preceptor mansion. While Tou revives a trapped black stone and dashes off to rescue Chonghu Palace with artisans and silver, Prince Lu reads his devotion to Chong Xuezhi as the ultimate leverage.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Original Novel | Adapted from the wuxia novel of the same name by Jun Zi Yi Ze |
| Total Episodes | 48 episodes |
| Episode Focus | Episode 26 |
| Lead Cast | Luo Yunxi (Shangguan Tou), Chen Yuqi (Chong Xuezhi), Quan Peilun (Prince Lu / Xue Lie) |
### Huashan's Secret Agenda and the Preceptor's Chess Match
Episode 26 shifts the drama's core tension from sect skirmishes directly into imperial scheming. Feng Sheng, the leader of the Huashan Sect, welcomes his long-lost son Feng She with an immediate hidden agenda. Rather than showing paternal affection, he probes Feng She's bond with the young mistress of Chonghu Palace.
Meanwhile, at the birthday banquet for State Preceptor Shangguan Xingzhou, Prince Lu (Xue Lie) presents a gentle, unpretentious persona over a game of weiqi. He projects warmth toward his father-in-law, yet their verbal sparring carries edge.
When Shangguan Tou enters the pavilion, Prince Lu pulls him right to the board, using his losing position to probe the younger man's intellect and political allegiance.
### A Revived Stone and the Rift Between Father and Son
Shangguan Tou claims he knows nothing of court politics. Yet he spots an unexpected play that breathes life into Prince Lu's captured black stones, flipping the board completely.
Prince Lu praises him as someone who bides his time while concealing true brilliance. Shortly after, the Crown Prince arrives to urge Shangguan Tou to accept government office. Tou refuses outright, choosing freedom over bureaucratic entanglement.
This refusal sparks a bitter confrontation with his father. For Tou, the wounds run deep; his mother died because of court ambitions, and he refuses to walk that bloodstained path again. Viewers tracking the intricate costumes and headpieces of this high-stakes banquet can also explore the detailed styling guide in the And the Winner Is Love Episode 26 Outfits breakdown.
### Osmanthus Cake and the Trap of Royal Favors
Hearing that Chonghu Palace faces an impossible weapon-casting demand from local officials, Shangguan Tou abandons his scheduled meeting with Prince Lu. He loads carts with Dongdu craftsmen and silver, riding day and night to deliver direct aid.
Chong Xuezhi remains guarded due to Lingjian Mountain Manor misunderstandings, but Tou softens the barrier by secretly presenting her favorite Dongdu osmanthus cake. For those looking ahead to how their romance evolves amid court turmoil, the narrative thread continues in And the Winner Is Love Episode 29 Ending Explained and And the Winner Is Love Episode 33 Recap and Ending Explained.
When Tou returns to Dongdu, Prince Lu's informants have already cataloged his detour. Recognizing Tou's devotion to Xuezhi as a handy pressure point, Prince Lu persuades his wife, Shangguan Zhen, to invite Xuezhi to Dongdu under the guise of an amicable reconciliation.
### Deciphering the Omens: The Clues Left on the Board
The conclusion of Episode 26 layers three critical omens beneath surface-level familial warmth.
First, Prince Lu's interest in the weiqi game was never casual. Observing Tou save a hopeless position alerted Lu to Tou's strategic brilliance. By tracking Tou's emergency ride to Chonghu Palace, Lu located his target's chief vulnerability.
Second, Shangguan Zhen boasts that Prince Lu promised never to take a concubine. Yet this marital devotion sits against State Preceptor Shangguan's grim prophecy about ominous shifts from the northeast—the precise direction of Prince Lu's fiefdom in Shangzhou. It suggests Lu's devoted facade secures the Preceptor's clout while cloaking insurrection.
Third, inviting Xuezhi to Dongdu sets a dangerous board into motion. The upcoming preview hints at Xuezhi being ambushed en route, showing how swiftly chivalric affection gets converted into imperial bait.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Shangguan Tou refuse to enter government service despite the Crown Prince's request?
Shangguan Tou harbors enduring grief over his mother's death, which stemmed from his father's pursuit of political status. Because of that tragedy, he chooses wandering martial freedom over court intrigue.
What did the chessboard interaction between Prince Lu and Shangguan Tou reveal?
Shangguan Tou demonstrated how an apparent defeat can be reversed with a single move. Prince Lu recognized Tou's hidden tactical talent and realized that Shangguan Tou could become either an indispensable ally or a dangerous adversary.
Why is Prince Lu so interested in Chong Xuezhi coming to Dongdu?
Prince Lu learned that Shangguan Tou dropped their appointment to rush aid to Chonghu Palace. Bringing Xuezhi to Dongdu allows him to exploit Tou's emotional devotion while exerting control over Chonghu Palace's martial standing.