Chapter 171: A Heated Debate

Wu Wei’s fist, hidden in her sleeve, clenched quietly. If Dongfang Rui weren’t now a wanted fugitive of the Imperial Court, Wu Wei would have spoken up for her regardless of the vast difference in their statuses.

Prince Yi seemed utterly oblivious. He continued speaking as if to himself. “There was intent to humiliate her, no doubt about that. But there are also people like this prince who genuinely wanted to know what spoiled rice tastes like. Spoiled rice, however… can’t be eaten. So we had no choice but to ask her.”

In the end, Wu Wei couldn’t hold back. She shot to her feet and said angrily, “Dongfang Rui has begged before, it’s true. But she did it to crack the Snake Demon Murder Case, to bring justice to the victims and wash away their wrongful deaths. Without Dongfang Rui, that case would still be gathering dust in the Unsolved Cases Record, unsolved even now, with the killer roaming free.”

Prince Yi turned the jade thumb ring on his finger. “What you say is true. No one has denied Dongfang Rui’s achievements. But have you forgotten that before she was adopted, Dongfang Rui was just another street urchin begging for scraps, nearly freezing to death? How many people laughed at her? There are a thousand ways to solve a case—why did Dongfang Rui choose to become a beggar again? She was just falling back on old habits. Perhaps it was the only thing she knew how to do back then.”

“Your Highness, a person’s origins are not theirs to choose. When Dongfang Rui was rescued all those years ago, she was only a few years old. What could a child that young do besides beg for food? If the world truly belongs to all, why would she need to beg at all?”

“The world belongs to all?”

“The Great Way unfolds, and the world belongs to all…” Wu Wei promptly recited the full text of The Great Way is Made. The history of this era was a jumbled mess—some records from her Blue Star world existed here, while others did not.

Prince Yi listened intently, his eyes gleaming. He asked, “Who said those words?”

Wu Wei’s heart sank. She silently cursed herself for letting her anger cloud her judgment and revealing knowledge from Blue Star in front of Prince Yi. He wasn’t some simpleton like Zhang Shuisheng; he couldn’t be easily fooled.

Unable to explain herself, Wu Wei doubled down with feigned defiance, fueled by her lingering anger. “Your Highness needn’t worry about who said it. Was Dongfang Rui wrong as a youth to beg, or was it the fault of the world?”

“Then let this prince ask you: was it right or wrong for her to beg again once she grew up?”

Silence fell between them. Wu Wei sat back down, lost in thought.

Prince Yi sighed. “Dongfang Rui has vanished without a trace. This prince truly wants to ask her: if she had known one day she would rise to the Imperial Court and have her story immortalized in plays, would the Dongfang Rui of back then still have chosen that method to investigate the case? At that banquet, when someone asked her what spoiled rice tasted like, did she feel even a moment of regret?”

Wu Wei was no fool. Once she grasped what Prince Yi was really getting at, her anger dissipated.

She had never aspired to enter officialdom herself. Yet when she had first arrived here, she hadn’t planned to stay either.

When she had built that little courtyard halfway up the hillside, she had only dreamed of a peaceful life. She never imagined she would one day become a partner in the Taizhou Rice Shop!

And when she had strutted about town in her sheepskin jacket, she had cared only about staying warm herself. What did she care for others’ opinions?

Wasn’t she just like Dongfang Rui back then? When Dongfang Rui had sought vengeance for her adoptive family, she probably hadn’t foreseen that she would one day stand in the halls of power.

What if it were Wu Wei in her place?

Would there come a day when she regretted not heeding Third Sister’s advice to wear the sheepskin jacket under her outer robe?

It was wise to prepare for danger in times of peace and to look far ahead when standing tall. No one knew what the future held. But once that future arrived, there was no medicine for regret.

Wu Wei couldn’t fathom why Prince Yi had gone out of his way to enlighten her. Perhaps Gao Ningxue had mentioned something in her letter.

That made sense. Gao Ningxue’s grandfather, Prince Pingyan, was advanced in years. The Capital Region was nothing like Taizhou Prefecture, where the emperor’s reach was distant. With Dongfang Rui gone, Gao Ningxue had one fewer protector.

It was only natural for her to think of a friend made in times of crisis. Who knew? Gao Ningxue’s letter might even request that Prince Yi employ Wu Wei in the future or transfer her to the capital to manage shops for her.

Having thought it through, Wu Wei felt relieved. The hostility in her gaze toward Prince Yi faded, even if she still didn’t agree with him dredging up Dongfang Rui’s past.

Fugitive of the court or not, Dongfang Rui remained a mentor and friend in Wu Wei’s heart.

Wu Wei stood and bowed to Prince Yi. “Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. This common woman understands now. In the future, I will watch my words and actions carefully. I won’t disappoint Your Highness’s counsel today, nor the County Princess’s good intentions.”

Prince Yi was pleased with the first half—his efforts hadn’t been wasted. But what was this about the second half?

Oh, so all his painstaking advice had been credited entirely to his little niece?

Prince Yi’s view of Wu Wei soured again. He waved her off. “Enough. You may go.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Wu Wei left Prince Yi’s Mansion happily, laden with packages of pastries.

Even she had to admit that Prince Yi was broad-minded and generous. Not only had he overlooked her impertinence, but he had also sent her off with pastries to take home. Both times she had left his mansion, her hands had been full.

May all good people live in peace, Wu Wei thought to herself.

…

Over the next few days, Wu Wei returned gifts to everyone who had sent congratulations to the rice shop. She attended several banquets and tea gatherings, deftly sidestepping those who probed openly or subtly about her relationship with Prince Yi.

A few days later, fellow villagers returning from Zhang Family Village to work at the Taizhou Mine stopped by the rice shop and the Oil Pressing Workshop. They brought a message from Eldest Sister Li.

Eldest Sister Li said that the ice blocks in the cave had all frozen solid. Straw had been laid down as Wu Wei instructed, and the entrance had been sealed tight with layers of straw mats and quilts. Wu Wei could rest easy.

The messengers added, however, that word must have leaked somehow. Everyone knew Wu Wei had made a fortune stockpiling and selling ice last year. Since the autumn harvest, many had followed her lead, carving caves into the hillsides. Their caves weren’t as grand as Wu Wei’s, but they could hold dozens of blocks.

It wasn’t just Zhang Family Village—neighboring hamlets had done the same, all stocking up on ice through the winter to sell at a premium come summer.

Eldest Sister Li worried that with so many more suppliers this year, Wu Wei and Zhang Shuisheng’s ice wouldn’t fetch a good price.

The messengers glanced worriedly at Wu Wei and Zhang Shuisheng. Zhang Shuisheng’s expression grew grave. Wu Wei had told him long ago that ice prices would only drop over time, but he hadn’t expected it so soon. It looked like they would have to press oil even harder.

Wu Wei, however, looked utterly relaxed, even wearing a faint smile. This puzzled the visitors.

The messengers had to report to the mine and couldn’t linger. Second Lady Liu packed some buns for them and drew a jar of fragrant oil from their own vat. “Thank you for making the trip, good brother,” she said. “Mining is grueling work. Take care of yourself out there. Bring these buns. And this oil—your Brother Shuisheng pressed it himself. When your meals are short on grease, add a bit. It’s delicious.”

“Then thank you, sister-in-law! If there’s anything I can do to help, just send word to the mine. I’ll come running!”

After seeing the men off, Second Lady Liu and Zhang Shuisheng returned to find Wu Wei grinning even wider, lost in her own thoughts.

Second Lady Liu asked in bewilderment, “What’s got you giggling like a fool, sister? Didn’t you hear? Someone copied our ice business. Summer prices will tank.”

Last year, Zhang Shuisheng and Second Lady Liu had made a full hundred taels of silver from ice alone. That was what had funded the Oil Pressing Workshop. Wu Wei had even covered their transport losses.

Wu Wei glanced at the two of them, then turned to Liu Cuiwei beside her. Meeting Liu Cuiwei’s knowing look, Wu Wei’s smile deepened. As expected… Third Sister understood her best.

Wu Wei composed herself and explained, “Second Sister, Second Brother-in-law—this situation is exactly what I orchestrated. It’s the outcome I wanted, and I’m thrilled. Let me apologize to you both first.” She stood and bowed deeply with clasped hands.

Second Lady Liu hurried forward to support her. “Sister, what are you doing? Sit down!”

Zhang Shuisheng added, “Weiwei always has her reasons. No need for apologies—just explain it to us.”

Wu Wei glanced at Liu Cuiwei. “Third Sister, why don’t you explain it to Second Sister and Second Brother-in-law for me?”

Liu Cuiwei nodded and said softly, “Ever since last year’s drought, Weiwei has been thinking about preparing for danger in times of peace. She often tells me that we farmers are utterly helpless against natural disasters. Drought or flood, it’s always the common folk at the bottom who suffer most. We’ve been well looked after by the villagers since arriving in Zhang Family Village, and Weiwei has always wanted a way to repay them.”

Second Lady Liu seemed only half-convinced. “So you spread the word about this ice-making business to let all the folks in our village profit from it? But… if there’s too much ice, there aren’t that many restaurants that can buy it up. Once it piles up unsold, nobody makes a dime.”

“Second Niang, let Third Sister finish,” Zhang Shuisheng said. He trusted that Wu Wei understood the old truth that abundance cheapens value—there had to be more to her plan.

Liu Cuiwei shook her head. “Not at all. Opening up the mountains and carving out caves takes manpower, and even silver. If we don’t let the villagers see the real profits for themselves, why would anyone follow our lead? The pickup times we’ve set with Hundred Flavors Building are almost all during the day, when everyone in the village can see. And Weiwei even said that if there are guests at home when we’re collecting payment, no need to hide it—just let them watch.”