The Lament of Autumn Episode 4 (2026), also known as Yu Dian Qiu Episode 4, follows Yu Changxuan and Ye Pingjun as their complicated relationship develops into an unusual arrangement. Although Pingjun has repeatedly resisted Changxuan's attempts to control her, he continues to pursue her and insists on accompanying her to school. Pingjun responds with sharp remarks, making it clear that she does not welcome his unwanted attention. Their exchanges are witnessed by Tao Ziyi, who feels jealous but tries to conceal her irritation. Changxuan's behavior appears increasingly personal, yet his interest in Pingjun is also connected to a larger plan involving Tao Ziyi and her influential family. Behind Changxuan's playful public image, a serious military scheme is taking shape. He learns that Tao Xili and the Mou family are involved in purchasing a shipment of weapons using government money originally intended to provide relief to disaster victims. The weapons are expected to arrive by water at Xishui, creating an opportunity for Changxuan to obtain military supplies and build an independent force loyal to him. He discusses the plan with Gu Ruitong and insists that his father, Yu Zhongquan, must not learn about it. Changxuan understands that attempting to seize the shipment with only his own men would be dangerous, so he begins considering cooperation with Yang Shiying, an officer serving under Marshal Xu. Changxuan's plan requires more than military strength. He needs access to influential people and resources connected to the Tao family, making his apparent interest in Tao Ziyi strategically useful. When Li Boren visits, he suggests that Changxuan's growing closeness to Pingjun may be intended to make Tao Ziyi jealous and help him obtain a valuable plot of land at Changping Mountain. Li offers to assist with the matter, but Changxuan keeps his broader intentions close to his chest. His personal relationships and military ambitions are becoming increasingly intertwined, and the people around him cannot easily distinguish his genuine feelings from his calculated decisions. Meanwhile, Pingjun continues trying to earn money through her writing skills. She takes on assignments for two young women who pay her to complete their schoolwork. The arrangement provides badly needed income, but it also places her in a difficult position when the girls invite her to go roller-skating. Pingjun initially hesitates because she does not want to offend the people who employ her. Eventually, she agrees to accompany them, unaware that the outing will become another opportunity for Tao Ziyi to humiliate her. At the skating rink, Tao Ziyi arranges for Pingjun to be deliberately knocked down. Pingjun is inexperienced at skating and falls after being struck, while the people around her treat the incident as entertainment. Rather than continuing to endure the humiliation, Pingjun removes her skates and decides to leave. When a man blocks her path, she pushes him to the ground and responds to his complaints by pointing out that falling is an ordinary part of learning to skate. Her refusal to apologize for something that was not her fault demonstrates the same determination she displayed during the assassination investigation. Changxuan observes the confrontation and is visibly amused by her sharp response and unwillingness to submit to other people's bullying. When Pingjun leaves the skating rink, Changxuan catches up with her and pulls her into his car. She objects to his behavior and refuses his offer to take her to the hospital, insisting that she can look after herself. Changxuan then proposes a new arrangement: he wants her to attend his upcoming birthday celebration as his female companion. In return, he offers to shorten their existing one-year contract to six months. Pingjun is suspicious of his motives, but she also recognizes that the agreement could help her secure the freedom she has been trying to regain. After considering his proposal, she agrees to participate in the birthday event. As Changxuan prepares for his birthday, the difference between Pingjun and the wealthy guests around him becomes increasingly apparent. Most guests intend to present expensive gifts, but Pingjun cannot afford luxury items. Instead, she decides to bake a cake herself. Her gift is anything but conventional: she decorates the cake with a portrait of Changxuan and deliberately places the candles in a way that makes the presentation look ridiculous. When it is time to cut the cake, she divides it into eight pieces, turning the gesture into a private joke at his expense. Everyone can see that she is teasing him, but because she is appearing as his companion, Changxuan must maintain his composure and claim that he likes the present. Tao Ziyi watches from nearby, increasingly displeased by the attention Pingjun receives. The birthday gathering continues with horseback riding. Changxuan has arranged a riding outfit specifically for Pingjun, and his expression briefly reveals his admiration when he sees her wearing it. He quickly returns to his familiar carefree manner, however, and helps her onto the horse before riding away with her. Tao Ziyi watches the pair leave together, visibly frustrated by their growing closeness. For Changxuan, the outing serves both as a public display of his association with Pingjun and as another way to provoke a reaction from Tao Ziyi. Away from the other guests, Changxuan criticizes Pingjun for refusing to cooperate fully with the role she agreed to play. Pingjun points out that the arrangement benefits him and asks what will happen to her once his objectives have been achieved. She does not want to become trapped in a situation where he can simply discard her after using her to achieve his aims. Changxuan dismisses her concerns and insists that she recognize the difference in their positions, telling her to address him as her boss. Their argument exposes the central problem in their agreement: Changxuan expects obedience, while Pingjun wants clear terms and the right to decide her own future. Tao Ziyi soon approaches Changxuan and demands that Pingjun leave the gathering. She believes Pingjun's background makes her unsuitable for their social circle and cannot understand why Changxuan continues to keep her close. Changxuan deliberately refuses to send Pingjun away, knowing that his decision will upset Tao Ziyi. Pingjun overhears their conversation and realizes that Changxuan's behavior is part of a calculated attempt to make Tao Ziyi jealous. His plan is not simply about romance; he is using their public relationship to influence a woman whose family possesses resources he needs. Pingjun confronts Changxuan about his manipulation. She warns him that she understands what he is doing and could expose his real intentions to Tao Ziyi. Changxuan responds with a threat, warning her not to be too clever for her own good. Rather than backing down, Pingjun uses the discovery to renegotiate their arrangement. She agrees to cooperate fully with his plan, provided he returns her contract and allows her to leave once the scheme is complete. Changxuan is forced to consider her demand because exposing his motives could jeopardize the entire strategy. Their agreement becomes more explicit, although Pingjun remains aware that dealing with Changxuan is dangerous and that he may not honor the arrangement without further resistance. During a meal with the other guests, Pingjun continues playing her assigned role while finding small ways to retaliate against Changxuan. She deliberately feeds him sushi containing wasabi. The unexpectedly strong taste brings tears to his eyes, but he continues praising the food rather than allowing the other guests to see how thoroughly she has tricked him. Their interaction appears intimate to the people around them, and Tao Ziyi becomes even more jealous. Pingjun's mischievous behavior reveals that she is not a passive participant in Changxuan's scheme; she is determined to protect her interests and will not let him control every aspect of their relationship. Tao Yayi subsequently arranges a boat outing intended to bring Tao Ziyi and Changxuan together. However, Changxuan moves first and ensures that Pingjun becomes his companion on the boat. When Pingjun boards, she discovers that Changxuan is already waiting for her, while Li Boren is with Tao Ziyi. The arrangement frustrates Tao Ziyi's expectations and gives Changxuan another opportunity to keep Pingjun close in public. Their boat trip initially appears to be a romantic excursion, but Pingjun soon realizes that Changxuan has other business to attend to. Changxuan takes Pingjun in a small boat toward a secluded landing. When they reach the riverbank, Pingjun notices armed soldiers stationed nearby and begins to suspect that the trip is connected to his secret military plans. Changxuan gives her a pistol and explains that she should use it to defend herself if anyone attempts to harm her. He assures her that he will take responsibility for any consequences. The gesture is unsettling because it places Pingjun in a dangerous situation without explaining the full purpose of the mission. Nevertheless, she remains alert and tries to understand what Changxuan is doing while protecting herself from the risks surrounding them. At the landing, Changxuan meets Yang Shiying, a representative of Marshal Xu. Yang is initially surprised that a man known for his carefree reputation would arrange a meeting alone and propose a serious military partnership. Changxuan explains that a shipment of weapons is expected to arrive at a specific place and time. He offers to share the information in exchange for cooperation, arguing that Yang's forces would have difficulty locating and intercepting the shipment without his intelligence. Yang questions whether the arrangement is worth the risk, but Changxuan demonstrates that he understands the military and political situation well enough to offer a genuine advantage. While Changxuan and Yang discuss the proposed cooperation, Pingjun remains near the soldiers at the riverbank. Instead of treating her as an intruder, the men begin telling her stories about their lives and military experiences. Pingjun listens with genuine interest and responds warmly, showing that she can connect with ordinary people regardless of their social position. When Changxuan returns and sees her smiling with the soldiers, he pauses to watch her. Her natural kindness contrasts with the calculated behavior of the powerful families and military officers who dominate his world. Yang also observes the interaction and gains a better understanding of Changxuan's unusual companion. Yang ultimately becomes more receptive to the proposed alliance, not merely because Changxuan has information about the weapons but because his analysis of the political situation addresses the concerns of Marshal Xu's faction. Their conversation establishes the basis for a secret partnership that could alter the balance of power among the military leaders. Changxuan has taken a significant step toward building his own force, but the decision also risks bringing him into direct conflict with his father and other powerful interests. His insistence on keeping the plan secret suggests that he knows how dangerous the consequences could become if the operation is discovered prematurely. After the meeting, Changxuan and Pingjun return to the boat and continue their journey on the water. Rain begins to fall, and Changxuan removes his suit jacket and places it over Pingjun's shoulders. The gesture creates a moment of unexpected intimacy between two people who have spent much of their time arguing. Changxuan tells her that when she speaks to him, she should look directly into his eyes. Pingjun challenges his expectations by asking whether he only likes people who obey him. Changxuan admits that he is especially interested in people who refuse to obey and in the process of making a defiant person change their behavior. His answer reveals both his attraction to Pingjun's independence and his troubling desire to control her. As they continue across the water, they hear a woman singing opera from a pavilion beside the river. Changxuan praises the performance and reflects that even a small amount of genuine feeling can bring light into a person's life. Pingjun is unconvinced by his romantic words, given his reputation and the way he manipulates the women around him. She continues to question whether his apparent affection is sincere or simply another tactic. Their conversation captures the unresolved tension between them: Changxuan is becoming increasingly fascinated by Pingjun's honesty and stubbornness, while Pingjun refuses to confuse his attention with trust. The fourth episode of The Lament of Autumn advances both the romantic relationship and the political storyline. Pingjun agrees to act as Changxuan's companion, but she negotiates for the return of her contract and repeatedly challenges his attempts to control her. Her deliberately insulting birthday cake, playful revenge at dinner, and direct confrontation with Tao Ziyi demonstrate her intelligence and independence. At the same time, Changxuan's secret plan to intercept a weapons shipment brings him into cooperation with Yang Shiying and deepens the conflict between his personal ambitions and his father's authority. Their boat journey ends with a quieter moment of closeness, but Pingjun remains skeptical of Changxuan's intentions. Their partnership is becoming more intimate, even as it remains rooted in bargaining, jealousy, and hidden motives.