The Lament of Autumn
In the turbulent era of the Republic of China, student Ye Pingjun takes a job at a Western Hunan meeting house to fund her mother’s medical care. However, she's unexpectedly caught in the crossfire of an assassination attempt against the powerful Yu family’s fifth son, Yu Changxuan, and ends up accused of a crime she didn’t commit. Pingjun strikes a bold bargain: if Changxuan cannot identify the true culprit within ten days, he must clear her name. What begins as a high-stakes investigation quickly evolves into a calculated courtship as Changxuan maneuvers to win her heart while hiding a complex web of secrets. Will their blossoming romance survive the encroaching shadows of war, or will the secrets of their past pull them apart?
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In 1919, northern warlord Cheng Jun sets his sights on the presidency and courts military backing from Sujing's three cities. Hoping to secure his own future, Yu Zhongquan, who controls Nanhuai, decides to join forces with Cheng's close ally, Chu Wenfu, and support Cheng's bid.
Ye Pingjun starts working at the Yuchun Troupe. The troupe leader reminds Ye Pingjun not to offend Yu Changxuan.
Yu Changxuan admits his defeat to Ye Pingjun after a ten-day bet. Not only did he release her, but he also gave her some silver dollars. Ye Pingjun can't contain her sorrow and rage. She rebukes Yu Changxuan for acting all high and mighty and cruel.
Yu Changxuan and Gu Ruitong plan to hijack Mou Linsen and Tao Xili's smuggled weapons with the help of the Cheng Army.
Yu Changxuan learns that Ye Pingjun caught a chill and developed a fever while on the boat. Though he claims not to care, he shows up at her door with a basket of nourishing tonics to visit her.
Tao Xili abducts Ye Pingjun and whips her in a warehouse outside the city to vent his anger. She stubbornly refuses to admit any wrongdoing, but during the struggle, she spots half a jade pendant at his waist. It resembles a keepsake her mother once owned, leaving her wondering what the connection could be.
Chunfeng Theater Troupe is suddenly sealed off. Ye Pingjun instinctively assumes that it was Yu Changxuan's revenge. Ye Pingjun begs him and weighs the pros and cons for him, but Yu Changxuan rejects her both times. They part on bad terms.
Jiang Xueting joins the Yu Army as a translator after being hired by Yu Changxuan. Li Boren notices that Yu Changxuan already knew that Jiang Xueting is Ye Pingjun's boyfriend. He is sure that Yu Changxuan is serious about going after Ye Pingjun this time.
Jiang Xueting sneaks into the archives during his overtime shift. He manages to steal a list of the names of deceased individuals from the mining incident. That is why Jiang Xueting returns to the country in advance and tries to join the Yu Army.
Yu Changxuan reveals the plans he has been plotting all along within the army, building Yu Army's own arsenal on Changping Mountain, but his plan is rejected by the old generals.
An article exposing how Feng Sanli forced soldiers to work in a mine where they died in a disaster sparks outrage across Nanhuai, plunging the Yu Army into scandal.
On his deathbed, the limping soldier reveals the whereabouts of the stolen goods. When Yu Changxuan rushes to the scene, he finds that the gold has already been moved, leading him to conclude that someone was protecting Feng Sanli.
Gu Ruitong leads his troops in storming through the door and takes Jiang Xueting into custody on charges of stealing military secrets and defecting to the enemy.
Yu Changxuan confronts Jiang Xueting in prison, questioning how he can truly care for Ye Pingjun while secretly working as a spy and still planning to marry her.
At Fengtai, Ye Pingjun refuses to eat for three days, her high fever showing no sign of breaking. Yu Changxuan stays by her side, eventually resorting to threats against Jiang Xueting's life to make her eat.
Ye Pingjun returns home. Li Boren chases her into the alley. He tells her about the things Yu Changxuan had done for her. Ye Pingjun is at a loss for words.
After Jiang Xueting is released from prison, Ye Pingjun feels heartbroken seeing how haggard he looks. However, Jiang Xueting presses her for answers about what really happened between her and Yu Changxuan, noticing the scars on her wrist.
On the battlefield, Yu Changxuan watches his comrades fall and prepares to go down fighting, but Gu Ruitong and Kuang Bingwen arrive with reinforcements and rescue him.
Ye Pingjun's play calling for a boycott of Japanese goods enrages a group of Japanese rōnin. After the crowd beats them up during the ensuing clash, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce uses the incident as an excuse to imprison her and torture her into confessing.
Ye Pingjun accidentally discovers that the photo of Yu Changxuan with the Japanese man was taken out of context and deliberately fabricated by Jiang Xueting. Deeply disappointed in Jiang Xueting, Ye Pingjun asks to break up.
Tao Xili has Ye Pingjun abducted and taken to the riverbank, where he tries to force her to kneel before him. To avenge his younger daughter, he orders his men to throw Ye Pingjun into the river.
