Xue Yu-Yan could be seen doing the painting in her private chamber, but her hand was trembling. She was trying hard, but could not draw anything. A fear had grown in her, an unknown fear! She put the brush down and sighed. "This was the only thing I was good at," she sighed. "But, my hands tremble every time I try to paint," she murmured.
She stood up from the floor mattress and went towards the porch of her chamber. Sitting on the stairs of the porch, she rested both hands on her knees and her knuckles were under her chin.
"Lady Xue, it's hot outside. Please go inside," a maidservant humbly requested Xue Yu-Yan.
"I am not feeling hot. I am cold," Xue Yu-Yan replied. "Leave me alone. Clean the table," Xue Yu-Yan ordered her. The maidservant bowed and turned to leave when Xue Yu-Yan asked her about Jian Guozhi.