Unexpectedly, he kept it in mind and came over to explain to her. At that moment, she realized that this Young Master Runyu truly kept her in his heart.

An hour of lessons every day wasn’t tiring. After class, there would be an additional hour just for Shui Yixuan. Young Master Runyu was quite kind to her, and after class, he would take her around the manor. When needed, he would carry or hold her, which not only made the clansmen accustomed to it, but even she had gotten used to it naturally. Saying no repeatedly had no effect, so why waste her breath?

"The current situation outside is dire. In the letters from my parents, they mentioned that people are displaced, small areas of plague symptoms have appeared in some places, and the borders are under constant threat, with war potentially breaking out at any moment. At this point, the Holy Dynasty is remarkably vulnerable, and when that time comes, the ones to suffer will be the commoners. The commoners are truly pitiful now, as crops are covered by landslides and floods, with deaths and injuries among family members. They have no income, no place to shelter from the elements, and everything is in chaos."

"Although our Mountain Villa is working tirelessly to distribute food aid, it’s ultimately a drop in the ocean. Fortunately, factions like Five Elements Manor and Liuyun Sect in the Jianghu haven’t turned a blind eye. The only ones doing nothing are the Royal Family. Though the relief grain should be rice, it ends up being bran for the disaster victims. Isn’t that despicable? It’s said that the national treasury is empty, and even the harem of the Holy Dynasty Emperor is full of complaints, not to mention those pitiful citizens!"

"You mean Lanyue, Nanyue, and Xichu, instead of helping the Holy Dynasty, want to take advantage of the fire and annex it?"

Runyu nodded: "The current ruler of Lanyue is not your Father Emperor, but the faction of the Imperial Concubine and Prime Minister Zuo. The Third Prince, whom they support, currently has the highest popularity. As for the Lanyue Emperor, since your mother’s disappearance, he’s been drowning in alcohol and letting himself go. He was originally an exceptionally good Emperor, but unfortunately, he fathered a son obsessed with competition. As for Nanyue and Xichu, they seem to have reached some agreement with Lanyue. Whether the Holy Dynasty can survive this crisis is uncertain."

In the original novel, there was no earthquake, nor any talk of annexation. The situation was always maintained as a balance among the Four Countries. Now, it seems that with her arrival, the entire plot has undergone a drastic change, and she can no longer rely on the original story for clues. However, it seems there might be a transmigrator in Nanyue as well. Whether she can encounter them this time is unknown.

"However, the change of dynasty doesn’t affect us. Holy Water Manor is independent of the Four Countries, and although its headquarters are in the Holy Dynasty, we have branches in the other three countries too. Due to complicated connections, and with my grandfather and parents suppressing matters here, most dare not touch us. The only thing we can do is our best. As for you, do you plan to go take a look in Lanyue? I remember you have a biological brother there!"

In the original novel, her biological brother was capable enough not to require the heroine’s search because they were also looking for her. Now, she hasn’t shown enough promise personally, so she doesn’t plan to search for him nor expects them to find her. She shook her head.

"Not for now. I’ll speak of it again once the business of my three stores recovers!"

"Are you interested in joining our Shui Clan? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to annex you, just think that relying on a big tree might provide more shade."

Jiang Xue looked up at him and declined: "Thank you for your kindness, but I have my own ideas for my shop. Although the competition pressure is immense, with your Holy Water Manor ahead, Five Elements Manor behind, and Liuyun Sect wedged in between, plus the original family forces in Beijing all vying for a share, it’s definitely not easy. But however difficult, I hope I can do it myself. I don’t seek to grow very large, just wish for freedom and stability."

In the original novel, the heroine grew continually stronger relying on her own efforts and the existing foundation of Holy Water Manor. In this lifetime, she’s starting from scratch with no power to rely on, aiming to seize a grain from the authority-holders’ hands. It’s indeed very challenging and not as simple as she imagined, but thankfully every step she takes leaves deep footprints and marks. In retrospect, she can at least ensure this is all fought for herself—worth it!

Young Master Runyu had long observed Jiang Xue’s pride. It’s impossible to imagine how glorious and unattainable she’d be if she were born into the Imperial Family and left to her devices. Hence, before she returns to the Imperial Family, he must solidify their relationship. Otherwise, in the future, with one being a commoner and the other having royal blood, how many difficulties and troubles must they face to receive royal approval?