In And the Winner Is Love Episode 44, Chong Xuezhi confronts Xia Qingmei atop Mount Yunlai, unlocking the true harmony of the Lotus Stance to neutralize his chaotic Nine Stances. Spared from execution, Xia Qingmei faces Prince Lu's ambush, while Xuezhi and Shangguan Tou prepare for the imperial conspiracy.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Drama Title | And the Winner Is Love |
| Episode Number | Episode 44 |
| Total Episodes | 48 Episodes |
| Main Duel Location | Mount Yunlai |
| Key Martial Manuals | The Lotus Stance (Lian Yi), Nine Stances of the Divine Lotus, Furong Heart Sutra |
### The Paper Trail Unfolds in Shangzhou
Tracking the serial bloodshed across Jianghu brings Chong Xuezhi and Shangguan Tou face to face with former Chonghua Palace retainers Zhusha and Chegu. The reunion confirms a grim lead: Xia Qingmei committed the slaughters.
"It is true that Yuwen Muyuan surrendered to Xue Lie, but when he visited us last time, he said he would rebuild Chonghua Palace." — Chegu
Arriving in Shangzhou, Xuezhi and Shangguan Tou spot Lin Fengzi in dire straits at a pawnshop, trying to exchange a treasured family keepsake for basic survival.
"Shopkeeper, please take another close look. It's a fine jade hairpin from my father, how can it only be worth two taels of silver?" — Lin Fengzi
For readers admiring the period accessories and garments seen in these scenes, check out the And the Winner Is Love Episode 44 Outfits breakdown, alongside the companion And the Winner Is Love Episode 35 Outfits guide for wider styling context.
Fengzi confesses that Xia Qingmei rescued the rogue monk Hongsheng, learned the stolen Nine Stances of the Divine Lotus, and subsequently killed him. Without the stabilizing Furong Heart Sutra, Qingmei suffers terrible qi deviation, wracked by excruciating head pains and escalating instability.
### Prince Lu's Ambition and the Mount Yunlai Ambush
While Shangguan Tou and Chong Xuezhi pursue Qingmei, Prince Lu (Xue Lie) tests his new technological leverage against captive sect leaders. He offers them false hope before detonating black gunpowder explosives.
"Do you know when a person is most despairing? It is precisely when they cling to hope." — Prince Lu
Learning that the secluded Shangqing Sect on Mount Yunlai is the next target, Shangguan Tou, Xuezhi, and Lingjian Mountain Manor Master Lin Changyan rush up the slopes. To explore how similar high-stakes martial sect politics unfold across other classic period productions, read the Yu Lin Ling Episode 36 Ending Explained analysis.
### The Mount Yunlai Duel: Harmony Against Raw Might
Xia Qingmei storms Mount Yunlai seeking complete annihilation, brushing aside Lin Changyan's pleas with raw entitlement.
"Master, stay out of this! I have completed the Nine Stances and stand supreme under heaven. No one has the right to command me!" — Xia Qingmei
"You will answer today for slaughtering innocents and framing Chonghua Palace. The Lotus Stance is never inherently evil; it is human malice that turns it vile!" — Chong Xuezhi
Qingmei unleashes his destructive Ninth Stance, pushing Xuezhi backward. Yet in that split second, Xuezhi deciphers the missing core of the final three stances: the Furong Heart Sutra provides the inner balance that holds the technique together. Qingmei's fierce moves leave hollow openings because his inner energy lacks grounding. Xuezhi deflects his violent onslaught with calm precision, landing a decisive strike that strips him of his momentum.
### Mercy Over Retribution: Xia Qingmei's Isolation
With Xia Qingmei disarmed on the stone terrace, Xuezhi refuses to deliver a fatal blow.
"You mastered the Ninth Stance and thought yourself invincible. Yet besides Fengzi, have you won anyone's genuine heart? Your hollow pride meant more to you than her devotion." — Chong Xuezhi
Xuezhi leaves his judgment to his own conscience: "The right to dispose of yourself rests in your own hands." Her restraint underscores that true strength governs the self rather than dominating others through terror.
### Prince Lu's Grand Chessboard and the Path to the Finale
Far from Mount Yunlai, Prince Lu views martial prowess as minor compared to state power and gunpowder.
"To someone who never practiced martial arts like me, how many decades of cultivation does this black powder equal? Even the revered Nine Stances cannot withstand it." — Prince Lu
Prince Lu plans to install Yuwen Muyuan as puppet head of Chonghua Palace during a grand investiture ceremony, intending to trap the remaining sects in one stroke.
As Xia Qingmei stumbles down Mount Yunlai alone, cloaked assassins sent by Prince Lu emerge to finish him off, proving his disposable role in Xue Lie's broader scheme.
"We come under the Prince's direct order to execute Chong Xuezhi." — Black-robed assassin
With four episodes remaining, the final showdown hinges on whether Yuwen Muyuan is playing a double game and how Shangguan Tou and Xuezhi will counter Prince Lu's concealed explosives.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Xia Qingmei unable to defeat Chong Xuezhi despite completing the Ninth Stance?
Xia Qingmei learned the Nine Stances of the Divine Lotus from Hongsheng without the Furong Heart Sutra. Without that internal foundation, his energy became erratic, causing severe headaches and qi deviation. Chong Xuezhi combined both halves of the manual, letting inner balance neutralize his raw attacks.
Does Chong Xuezhi kill Xia Qingmei after winning the duel on Mount Yunlai?
No, Chong Xuezhi spares him. She tells him that deciding his fate rests in his own hands, choosing personal accountability and moral discipline over vengeful execution.
What threat does Prince Lu pose to the martial arts sects in the upcoming finale?
Prince Lu relies on black gunpowder rather than martial arts techniques. He uses captive sect leaders and offers puppet positions like installing Yuwen Muyuan over Chonghua Palace to gather the sects in one location and eliminate them.