Film and Television World Life Record

Upon hearing Li Mu's agreement, Su Tan'er was immediately delighted. It was only February, and there were still several months until the summer trip. However, Su Tan'er also had some things to do. In the past, when she was in charge of the main branch's businesses, she would go out once a year. At first, she would go with her father, and later she would bring her own servants and guards.

At this time, unlike before, she was in charge of a huge business and shouldn't have gone too far, as it would have made it difficult to control the business. However, the family business was important, and her husband was also important.

Since their marriage, she has been busy and has always wanted to take some free time to spend with her husband, but she has never had the time.

Now that she holds considerable power, she can finally spare some time to accompany her husband on his travels.

In addition, given the current tense situation, Su Tan'er also realized that the North would not be peaceful in the future, and had to make adjustments in advance, shifting the focus of industrial development to the South.

This region, represented by Suzhou and Hangzhou, is of paramount importance for the future. Taking advantage of this trip to explore it is a win-win situation.

……

A few more days passed. On an ordinary day in early February, Nie Yunzhu, who had been cultivating the Kun Scroll of the Great Joy of Heaven and Earth Yin and Yang for more than three months, finally developed internal energy thanks to Li Mu's tireless efforts.

The internal energy that was born in just over three months was Su Tan'er's. She had good aptitude and cultivated the Kun Scroll of the Great Joy of Heaven and Earth Yin and Yang. With his tireless guidance and assistance every night, it took her four months to cultivate her internal energy.

Li Mu usually spends most of his time with Su Tan'er, and only a small portion of his time with Nie Yunzhu. Even so, she has cultivated her inner strength in just over three months, which shows that she has remarkable talent.

The difficulty of cultivating internal energy in this world is beyond imagination. Without guidance and assistance, one might not even be able to get started even after several years of practice.

It's unbelievable that two women could become proficient in martial arts in just three or four months.

Nie Yunzhu was resilient, intelligent, and had excellent aptitude. After gaining internal strength, she quickly mastered the Jade Maiden Heart Sword and the Returning Wind Willow Body Technique, which she had practiced for a long time.

She went from being a woman with no strength to becoming a little heroine.

With the emergence of internal energy, many of the techniques and subtleties of the Great Harmony of Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth could finally be unleashed. Although Nie Yunzhu was shy, with Li Mu, a super master with profound internal energy, guiding her to experience the various techniques of the Great Harmony of Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth, she received tremendous benefits.

Thanks to Li Mu's tireless efforts, the speed at which his internal energy increased, under the influence of the Great Harmony of Yin and Yang, could only be described as rapid, even faster than Su Tan'er's initial rate of internal energy growth.

This is a normal phenomenon. The Great Joy of Yin and Yang is an orthodox dual cultivation method, not some evil technique. When two people cultivate together, one has profound internal energy and the other has weak internal energy. Not only will the one with profound internal energy not drain the energy of the one with weak internal energy, but both will also receive corresponding benefits. In fact, the one with weak internal energy will receive more feedback.

Several days passed in this way. In the back garden of the Nie residence, Nie Yunzhu moved swiftly, using the Returning Wind and Willow-Swaying Movement Technique, and arrived in the center of the garden as if floating on a willow catkin. With a flick of her wrist, she gracefully unleashed the Jade Maiden Heart Sword Technique, her movements elegant and her swordplay continuous. Li Mu watched and nodded secretly, noting her good progress.

Beside her, Yuan Jin'er was practically green with envy. This was Sister Yunzhu... Sister Yunzhu, who was about the same level as her just a few days ago, had become stronger every day since she developed internal energy.

Perhaps in a while, she'll be able to leap several meters high like a true martial arts hero, flying around on other people's rooftops. Yuan Jin'er wants that too.

Yuan Jin'er gave Li Mu a resentful look, then fell into a dilemma: should she learn it or not?

Chapter 622 Assassination

It was mid-February. That afternoon, Li Mu accompanied Nie Yunzhu shopping, and Yuan Jin'er followed behind like a leech.

These days, she's been torn. She's envious of Nie Yunzhu's internal strength and wants to learn it, but she also knows the conditions for learning the Great Music of Yin and Yang. Wouldn't that be like rushing to give away her virginity?

Although Li Mu was very outstanding, she admired him without saying it, but she had always kept herself pure and upright over the years. She felt that it was not right to give herself away just to learn internal skills, and that it was too hasty.

He remained conflicted, following Nie Yunzhu around like a little tail every day.

The group walked along the streets by the Qinhuai River. The area was quite lively, with not only passersby like themselves strolling around, but also many merchants and travelers coming and going. Some people led horses through the streets, while others were fully equipped caravans, escorting their carriages and horses in a grand procession.

It is early spring now, and the willows along the Qinhuai River have not yet sprouted, but some birds have already flown over and are singing sweetly along the riverbank. Occasionally, painted boats pass by, carrying the sounds of music and singing.

Yuan Jin'er suddenly pointed to the approaching, beautiful painted boat and said, "Look... it looks like a boat from Mingyu Fang. I wonder if that's Yin Xue or Hua Ping..."

The group turned to look, and saw the exquisite and elegant painted boat sailing on the Qinhuai River, exuding a pleasing and delightful atmosphere.

"Jin'er is quite knowledgeable," Li Mu said with a smile.

Mingyuefang was also a famous brothel in Jiangning, with Yin Xue and Huaping being its most renowned establishments.

Yuan Jin'er snorted and said, "Do you think everyone is as ignorant as you? Ask any scholar in Jiangning City how many of them don't know this?"

Li Mu laughed and said, "It seems I'm quite ignorant. I guess I should visit brothels and pleasure boats more often in the future."

Yuan Jin'er rolled her eyes at him: "Whatever, Yunzhu is here to worry about it, I don't care!"

Li Mu laughed heartily.

As the painted boat slowly approached, besides the sounds of singing and dancing, one could also hear the impassioned voices of several scholars, though they were not very clear; they were probably arguing about matters in the north.

Yuan Jin'er suddenly remembered something, looked around, and whispered, "Have you heard? It is said that the Blackwater Alliance seven years ago was a scheme set up by Prime Minister Qin Siyuan for the Jin and Liao countries, and the conflict between the Jin and Liao countries was also sown at that time."

Li Mu chuckled and said, "Oh! How so..."

Yuan Jin'er looked smug, glanced at Li Mu, and continued with her chin held high: "It is said that the Blackwater Alliance seven years ago did not have to be so harsh. The total amount of compensation, including all kinds of things, almost doubled the annual tribute. Seeing how generous our Wu Dynasty is, the Liao people also agreed that if the extra annual tribute is insufficient, our dynasty can offset it with ceramics, rare objects, and various luxury goods."

"Since the Blackwater Alliance, the Liao Kingdom has become increasingly hedonistic in recent years, especially its nobles, who have become increasingly extravagant and licentious. The demand for these rare and precious items has been growing, and it is said that they have been purchasing large quantities from our dynasty in recent years, which is one of the effects of the Blackwater Alliance."

"In addition, the signing of the Blackwater Alliance was also due to the growing strength of the Jin Dynasty, which had repeatedly requested trade rights from the Liao Dynasty without success, leading to frequent friction between the two countries. Therefore, the plan was to send a large number of luxury goods as bait to provoke conflict between the two countries so that the other side could reap the benefits."

"I heard that in the years before the Blackwater Alliance, there was a black market trade between our dynasty and the Jin dynasty. After the Blackwater Alliance was signed, the court not only paid tribute to the Liao dynasty, but also secretly transported a large number of porcelain, treasures, luxury goods... even rouge and face powder to the Jin dynasty."

"There's even a claim that, for this plan, the Emperor selected a batch of items from the entire palace and sent them out..."

Li Mu said, "Jin'er knows quite a lot."

Yuan Jin'er said, "Of course, I know a lot more! I also know that in this peace talks between Jin and Liao, Liao made great concessions. Emperor Yelü Yanxi of Liao even conferred the title of Great Sage Emperor on Wanyan Aguda. Liao not only recognized Jin, but also recognized the land and people that Jin had seized. Emperor Yelü Yanxi of Liao was willing to take such a big step back, so Jin should be satisfied. There may be no more fighting in the north."

Li Mu said, "That's not necessarily true!"

Yuan Jin'er said, "Why not? The Jin Kingdom went from a tribe to conquering such a large country in such a short time. The speed was too fast, and the foundation was not solid. It needs a certain amount of time to consolidate its domestic situation and establish a solid foundation. The Liao Kingdom has suffered repeated defeats against the Jin Kingdom in recent years, losing so much territory. In addition, our dynasty is watching us from the south. The Liao Kingdom will not launch a war unless it feels that its military strength has surpassed that of the Jin Kingdom and our dynasty."

Li Mu said, “What you said makes sense. Take the Jin Kingdom for example. Its territory and population have expanded dozens or even hundreds of times in recent years, and it is still expanding. It is not without internal problems; on the contrary, it has many problems, but they have been suppressed by its rapid external expansion.”

“According to the thinking of our Central Plains dynasty, since the Jin state has made peace with the Liao state and gained so many benefits, it should stop while it’s ahead, take this opportunity to sort out its internal problems, consolidate its foundation, and slowly look for opportunities in the future.”

"However, this is the style and approach of the Central Plains dynasties. They are a fishing and hunting people, and their ideas and concepts are different from ours. They don't like to quit while they're ahead, and they prefer to take risks. They haven't been taught by sages, and they don't have much benevolence or morality. As long as they see an opportunity, they will take a bite."

"Don't expect them to follow the rules, especially the Jin Dynasty, which is still barbaric and has just developed from a tribe. It seems that they have made peace with the Liao Dynasty, but once they have digested their current territory and are capable of launching another war, they will not hesitate to start another war."

Yuan Jin'er said, "So, there will be another war in the north soon. Is it impossible to avoid it?"

Li Mu nodded and said, "It will be difficult for the North to achieve peace in the next few decades!"

"However, there is a way to achieve peace. Whether it is our dynasty, the Liao Kingdom, the Jin Kingdom, or other countries, as long as we eliminate all other countries and completely unify all surrounding areas, we will naturally stop fighting."

Yuan Jin'er's eyes widened: "Which country has such strength? It's impossible."

Li Mu smiled and said, "Perhaps there is!"

The group chatted and laughed, discussing the situation in the north, and unknowingly arrived at a rather elegant teahouse nestled against the mountains and beside the water.

"Liheng!" someone suddenly called out with a laugh from the second floor of the teahouse.

Li Mu looked up and saw that it was Qin Siyuan. He smiled and said, "Old Qin, I heard that your doorstep has been worn down by visitors lately. How come you have time to come out?"

Qin Siyuan pointed at him and smiled: "You... I've had a lot of people visiting my house lately, so why don't I have time to come out? Can't I come out and have some peace and quiet?"

Li Mu laughed and said, "Of course, you can go wherever you want."

After exchanging a few jokes, Qin Siyuan said, "Many talented people have come today. Liheng, would you be interested in coming up and having a seat?"

Before Li Mu could speak, Yuan Jin'er said, "Great! We've been walking for so long and we're thirsty. Let's go in and have some tea and snacks."

Li Mu could only nod and lead the two women inside.

The teahouse was quite spacious and elegant. Upon learning that there were private rooms on the second floor, they asked the waiter to lead the way and went upstairs.

This elegant room is beautifully decorated and has a great location. Sitting by the window, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the Qinhuai River. The room is also decorated in a refined and tranquil style, with several potted plants and ink paintings and poems hanging on the walls, creating a scholarly atmosphere.

Once the group sat down in the room, several maids immediately served fragrant tea and snacks. Yuan Jin'er was probably quite hungry, so she didn't stand on ceremony, sat down, took a sip of tea, and ate a small piece of snack.

After settling Nie Yunzhu and Yuan Jin'er in, Li Mu was about to leave the private room to meet Qin Siyuan when Yuan Jin'er put down her snacks and snorted, "Are you going to see those talented men? You men talk about a gathering of talented men, but you must have invited a lot of women to accompany you, and maybe many of them are top courtesans."

"They call it a gathering of talented men, but in my opinion, it's just a group of men showing off in front of women. Do you want Yunzhu and I to go and cheer you on later?"

Li Mu glared at Yuan Jin'er with annoyance: "You little wench, are you out of your mind? You were the one who wanted to stop at the teahouse earlier, and now you're saying all this. Are you itching for a beating? I'll treat you when we get back tonight."

Yuan Jin'er raised her head, her face full of arrogance, and said, "Who's afraid of who? I'm not afraid of you at all! You dare to come over tonight and see what happens..."

Li Mu smiled wryly and said, "So you want to learn internal energy cultivation? If you really want to learn, I'll teach you tonight when we get back."

Yuan Jin'er's face instantly turned red, and she stomped her foot, saying, "I'm ignoring you."

Li Mu laughed and walked out of the private room. He was about to head to the small hall where Qin Siyuan and the others were gathered when he noticed someone furtively watching them from the corridor not far away. Li Mu suddenly remembered something: Qin Siyuan was likely to be assassinated sometime soon.

Although the time and place have changed, the assassination itself remains the same. Qin Siyuan has finally managed to get out of his home, and if someone really wants to assassinate him, they probably won't let this opportunity pass.

Thinking it over, Li Mu walked toward the furtive man. The man was a tall and burly man, and judging from his attire, he must have come from the north. Just as Li Mu walked over, the man entered a private room a few feet away.

With his internal strength, he could hear the sounds coming from the private room with just a little concentration.

Are you sure you want to do this?

"Such an opportunity is truly rare..."

"Was this...too rushed...?"

"How can we avoid being hasty? We should act swiftly and decisively, get started as soon as possible, and leave the city immediately afterward..."

……

After listening to the conversation in the room, Li Mu confirmed that it was indeed an assassination attempt on Qin Siyuan. Logically, with his martial arts skills, taking down these people silently shouldn't have taken much effort.

But we can't do that.

Firstly, although the two have a good relationship now, the future is uncertain. Although they are not enemies, their positions are destined to be opposed.

Secondly, once he makes a move, his unparalleled martial arts skills will be exposed. It's not that martial arts skills can't be displayed; being an ordinary expert isn't a problem, and he hasn't hidden his martial arts abilities. But he can't display them this powerfully. His talent can be explained, after all, he's been studying since childhood. But his unparalleled martial arts skills are inexplicable; they can't be acquired through casual practice.

Qin Siyuan was a smart man. Once his curiosity was piqued, he would secretly investigate, and Li Mu's secret cultivation of power might be exposed. As a loyal subject of the Wu Dynasty, if he knew that Li Mu was secretly raising an army, he would inevitably harbor resentment and might even start a major conflict.

This is not what he wants to see. The two can actually be friends, like the friendship between gentlemen, which is as light as water. Qin Siyuan is actually not bad. It is not what Li Mu wants to see if they fall out because of their positions.