Outside the room, the maid Qingcao noticed that Su Jinyu hadnât responded. After hesitating for a moment, she knocked on the door again.
"Miss, please, open the door...
If you continue to starve yourself like this, then Qingcao wonât eat either. Iâll accompany you in hunger."
With that, she plopped down on the ground, pouting.
A moment later, Su Jinyu really opened the door.
"Donât be silly. Take good care of your own meals. Iâm merely honing myself."
There was a hint of determination on Su Jinyuâs face, her mind made up to overcome her problem of insufficient perseverance.
"Although Qingcao has never practiced the Martial Path, I understand the importance of temperament.
Miss, your temperament has been quite restless these days.
In such a state, how could you possibly hone yourself..."
Hearing this, Su Jinyuâs brow furrowed slightly, her face full of disappointment.
She also realized the truth in Qingcaoâs words. These days, her mind had been occupied with scenes from the Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering.
How could she calm herself...
"Miss, the path of Martial Arts canât always be smooth sailing. Doesnât Young Master Ye also encounter difficulties?"
Qingcao was quite articulate, gently holding Su Jinyuâs hand and softly advising her.
"Young Master Ye is amazed by your talent in the Sword Dao. In the capital, among your peers, who dares to compare swords with you?
Youâre just a little behind Shen Han in Stepping into the Thousand Autumns, but itâs not because your true strength is lesser.
If it came down to a real duel, I believe you could defeat Shen Han within two moves."
The maid Qingcao truly had a way with words.
After listening to her words, Su Jinyu felt significantly better.
However, she soon recalled the scenes from the Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering.
"But no matter what, in Stepping into the Thousand Autumns, I eventually lost to him..."
Hearing this, Qingcao gently squeezed Su Jinyuâs hands.
"Shen Han only reached the 80th level by luck.
Plus, didnât you see that after reaching the 80th level, he couldnât push forward? He couldnât overcome the emotional barrier."
After saying this, Qingcao seemed to have thought of something else and continued:
"Moreover, Iâve heard rumors that Shen Han is trapped in the emotional barrier because he misses you."
Su Jinyu shook her head gently, denying this rumor.
Before, she also thought this way, but the true situation was known only to Shen Han himself.
If the rumor was false, it would make her seem overly sentimental.
"Nonsense, Iâve only met Shen Han once. How could he be stuck in the emotional barrier because of me..."
But Qingcao seemed to become more enthusiastic as she spoke:
"Miss, donât be quick to deny. I asked around, and it turns out that when Shen Han was at the Shen Mansion, the only young woman close to him was a little maid, and she is much younger than Shen Han.
Because of the Imperial Familyâs bestowed marriage, I guess Shen Han has thought about you countless times.
After seeing you at the Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering, he must have thought about you even more.
Just imagine, in that emotional barrier, Shen Han must be thinking about spending a candlelit night with you in the bridal chamber...
Hearing her maidâs words, Su Jinyuâs brow furrowed, and her cheeks flushed a bit with embarrassment.
"You silly girl, why do you say such shameless things...?"
"Itâs private talk between us, Miss. I wouldnât say it in front of others. Anyway, Miss, you shouldnât be so depressed in your heart."
Feeling somewhat embarrassed by Qingcaoâs spicy words, Su Jinyu really didnât feel as anxious.
Even though she fell behind Shen Han in Stepping into the Thousand Autumns, the thought that he admired her made her feel a bit better.
Seeing that Su Jinyuâs demeanor had somewhat recovered, Qingcao quickly pulled her to sit at the table.
Inside the food box, dish after exquisite dish was taken out and placed on the table.
Handing the chopsticks to Su Jinyu, she invited her to eat some.
This time, Su Jinyu didnât refuse, gently picking up a piece and placing it in her mouth.
Her demeanor was both dignified and elegant.
Qingcao sat beside her, hands supporting her cheeks, eagerly watching Su Jinyu.
"My Miss is truly beautiful, no wonder Young Master Ye and Shen Han are both thinking about you."
As soon as she finished speaking, Su Jinyu reached over and knocked on her little head.
"You little rascal, stop talking nonsense. My heart is set only on Brother Ye.
As for Shen Han, heâs just a passerby to me. I have no feelings for him, and the engagement will definitely be annulled."
What Su Jinyu said was known to the maid Qingcao sitting beside her.
What of reaching the 80th level of Stepping into the Thousand Autumns?
Shen Ye reached the 96th level!
In her view, whether it be strength or potential, Shen Ye was miles ahead of Shen Han.
Her Miss naturally had feelings for Shen Ye, not Shen Han.
"But what good is it for you not to have feelings for Shen Han, Miss?
You canât control what he thinks, can you? Without surprise, heâll definitely keep thinking about you."
The maid Qingcao said as she gave Su Jinyu a sly look.
Su Jinyu watched her little maid continue to speak nonsense and immediately joined in the playful banter.
The gloom that had filled her heart was considerably dispelled.
After finishing the meal, Qingcao sensibly collected the dishes and left.
Since her Miss was feeling much better, it was truly time she didnât disturb her anymore.
The now-calm Su Jinyu no longer forced herself to improve her resolve.
She took slow steps into her courtyard, holding a long sword.
Sword Intent, unyielding!
She slashed with the sword, its Sword Qi unending.
The thin ice at the eaves seemed intimidated by the Sword Intent, sliding down.
Before even reaching the ground, the Sword Qi extended and shattered it.
By the time it hit the ground, it was already reduced to powder.
To advance from the Sixth Grade to the Fifth Grade, she must comprehend her own intent.
Unyielding Sword Intent, endlessly woven.
Su Jinyu looked at her technique in hand.
Perhaps this time, the Stepping into the Thousand Autumns had awakened something, surprisingly leading to her improvement.
The winter day turned dark very early.
It was merely 5:00 PM, yet it was already fully dark outside.
With the candle burning, Su Jinyu did not stop her practices, feeling she could calm her mind even more.
The entire night, Su Jinyu continued practicing without missing a beat.
Whenever she felt slightly tired, she swallowed a Pill to relieve her bodyâs exhaustion.
As the night passed, by around 7:00 AM, the outside finally brightened completely.
Maid Qingcao was once again carrying a food box, heading to the Rain Listening Pavilion.
But this morning, she wasnât alone; there was a rather sturdy man following her.
The manâs face seemed weatherworn, looking somewhat rough and dark.
His posture was upright, with a subtle air of fierceness unconsciously upon his face.
Following Qingcao all the way, into the guest room of the Rain Listening Pavilion.
The man did not proceed any further, sitting down, pouring himself a cup of tea.
Although he came to see his sister, as an older brother, it wasnât quite appropriate to enter his sisterâs boudoir.
It didnât take long for Su Jinyu to walk into the guest room from the eastern side.
"Arenât you supposed to be by fatherâs side these days, brother?
What brings you here today to see your little sister?"