In And the Winner Is Love Episode 27, Chong Xuezhi and Shangguan Tou confront Prince Lu's political maneuvers in the Eastern Capital. After rejecting a coerced banquet toast, Xuezhi falls victim to Feng Sheng's abduction trap, pushing Shangguan Tou to risk his own life in a desperate standoff against the Huashan sect.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Drama Title | And the Winner Is Love (ζδΈιη«) |
| Episode Number | Episode 27 |
| Total Episodes | 48 |
| Lead Cast | Luo Yunxi (Shangguan Tou), Chen Yuqi (Chong Xuezhi), Zou Tingwei (Yu Muxuan), Qu Feiluan (Prince Lu) |
| Key Conflict | Prince Lu attempts to subjugate martial sects while Feng Sheng schemes to seize Chonghuo Palace secret martial arts manuals |
The Eastern Capital Summons and Prince Lu's Calculation
The tension between Chong Xuezhi and Shangguan Tou becomes the lever Prince Lu uses to draw Chonghuo Palace into the imperial orbit. Encouraging his wife, Shangguan Zheng, to invite Xuezhi to the Eastern Capital under the guise of family mediation, Prince Lu disguises political entrapment as domestic harmony.
Prince Lu's ruthless authority surfaces when martial artists clash outside his residence. He orders their immediate execution under imperial law without hesitation. His chilling proclamation that no martial underworld stands above sovereign territory lays bare his intent to strip the martial arts community of autonomy.
Later, Prince Lu challenges Shangguan Tou over a game of weiqi, urging him to become a fellow player who shapes the realm rather than remaining an indifferent bystander. Shangguan Tou parries the invitation cleanly, stating his only interest lies in clearing the board rather than serving court ambition.
For viewers examining the ceremonial attire and intricate accessories worn during these capital scenes, our And the Winner Is Love Episode 27 Outfits Guide breaks down the formal robes and hairpin designs featured in the gathering.
The Banquet Stand and Shangguan Tou's Shield
Prompted by a letter from Shangguan Zheng and appeals regarding Feng She, Chong Xuezhi arrives at the banquet accompanied by Yu Muxuan. Prince Lu frames the assembly as a reconciliation between Chonghuo Palace and the Huashan sect, demanding a shared toast under philosophical rhetoric about elemental balance.
Xuezhi discerns the trap and refuses to drink, signaling that Chonghuo Palace fulfills its weapon supply obligations to the imperial court but will never bend to factional subservience. As hostility flares across the hall, Shangguan Tou steps forward to intercept the confrontation.
Emptying the cup on Chonghuo Palace's behalf, Shangguan Tou warns Huashan that peace endures only while provocation stops. If Huashan presses further, it must ride over Moon Valley first. His open pledge shifts the conflict from quiet political maneuvering into direct martial defiance.
Feng Sheng's Abduction and the Standoff at the Cliff
Following the banquet, Prince Lu's advisor lures Xuezhi away using false word that Shangguan Tou awaits her at the Grand Preceptor's compound. Behind the deception stands Huashan sect leader Feng Sheng, who uses his unacknowledged son Feng She as unwitting bait to dose Xuezhi with stupefying incense.
Feng Sheng executes the imperial advisor to silence witnesses before binding Xuezhi. He demands the sacred manuals of Chonghuo Palace, mocking lineage virtues and declaring raw dominance the sole arbiter of martial status.
When Shangguan Tou arrives wounded and breathless to rescue Xuezhi, Feng Sheng holds a blade to her neck and demands self-inflicted death in exchange for her release. Shangguan Tou raises his blade without hesitation, ready to sacrifice himself before sudden intervention breaks the immediate standoff.
As the fallout continues into subsequent episodes, Xuezhi faces deeper trials across the road ahead. You can track her shifting journey in our And the Winner Is Love Episode 28 Outfits Breakdown and trace Prince Lu's expanding court plots in our And the Winner Is Love Episode 35 Recap.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Chong Xuezhi refuse Prince Lu's toast at the banquet?
Chong Xuezhi recognizes that drinking the toast under Prince Lu's philosophical pretext would signify Chonghuo Palace's submission to royal political control and Huashan sect pressures.
What is Prince Lu's hidden ambition behind inviting the martial sects to the Eastern Capital?
Prince Lu uses imperial legal authority and peace mediations to gather influential martial sects in one place, aiming to eliminate independent power centers and bend them to his imperial ambitions.
How does Feng Sheng capture Chong Xuezhi in Episode 27?
Feng Sheng uses his estranged son Feng She and Prince Lu's advisor to deliver a forged message about Shangguan Tou, trapping Xuezhi with incapacitating incense to extort the Chonghuo Palace martial manuals.