In the next few days, Lord Virtuous the Eighth tried more than once to find time to talk with Li Mu and convey the goodwill of the emperor of the Northern Song. However, Li Mu had always stayed in closed-door training and never stepped out once. Thus, there was little he could do about it. Occasionally, Lord Virtuous the Eighth mentioned the matter to Wang Shiyu as off-hand as he could be. When Ming Yue, Qing Feng, and Yuan Hou were around, he did his best to show his kindness, for he had decided to influence the people around Li Mu first.
With news from all parts of the empire delivered to his mansion nonstop, Lord Virtuous the Eighth became a busy man again.
The circumstances were still rather dismal for the royal family of the Northern Song.
Although Lord Jin's territories, armies
