Chapter 1168: The River God’s Bride 3

When the original owner learned what had become of Yuexiang, her heart twisted with uncontrollable jealousy. Not only had Yuexiang escaped the fate of becoming the River God’s bride, she had also encountered a renowned general and risen to become his wife. The more the original owner thought about it, the more unwilling she became. In her mind, that position should have been hers from the very beginning. If she had not switched places with Yuexiang, then the one standing beside Feng Lun now, enjoying wealth and honor, would have been her. Unable to accept this, she eventually sought Yuexiang out and demanded, almost irrationally, that Feng Lun be returned to her.

By then, Yuexiang had already fallen deeply in love with Feng Lun. Yet her nature was too gentle, too soft, and she simply could not argue against the original owner’s twisted reasoning. Pressed again and again, she was driven to tears, and in the end, she actually agreed to give way. However, her agreement meant nothing in the face of Feng Lun’s will. When he learned that his beloved wife had been forced into such a situation, his expression turned cold with anger. Without hesitation, he ordered his men to seize the original owner and throw her into prison.

Not long after, Feng Lun personally had her dragged out and punished with a severe beating. Only once she had been crippled by the blows did he permit her release, casting her out with no further regard. With both legs broken, the original owner lost the ability to walk and could only survive by begging on the streets. Yet even then, her suffering did not end. She was still young, and in the harsh world of beggars, even that became a kind of misfortune. Powerless to resist, she was repeatedly violated under the cover of night, her dignity trampled again and again. A year later, she gave birth to a child of unknown parentage.

With no means to support herself, let alone a child, she abandoned the newborn almost immediately after birth. But the cycle did not stop. The following year, she gave birth again, and then again the year after that. It became a cruel, endless repetition, until nearly every other year she was forced to bring another life into the world, only to discard it. By the time seven children had been lost in this way, her body was utterly broken. Worn down by suffering and deprivation, she finally died alone on a cold, snow-laden night, her life fading away in silence.

After absorbing the entire course of events, Tang Wan found that she did not harbor any resentment toward the protagonists. Yuexiang, in particular, had shown nothing but kindness to the original owner, even to the point of sacrificing her own happiness. As for Feng Lun, though his actions had been harsh, they were not without reason. Having grown up hearing the story of how cruel superstitions could destroy lives, Tang Wan understood that his decision to suppress such practices was ultimately the correct one. Otherwise, countless innocent girls would continue to be sacrificed in the name of the River God.

But this time, things had to proceed differently. The marriage to He Bo could not be avoided, because if she did not follow through with it, she would have no way of encountering the River God’s attendants at all.

With this thought in mind, Tang Wan quickly made her decision. Just as the mayor turned his gaze toward her, she stepped forward and bowed respectfully, her expression calm and composed as she spoke, “For this humble girl to be chosen as the bride of He Bo is an honor. Please rest assured, Mayor, Father—after I am wed, I will certainly beseech Lord He to bless Yutang Town with favorable weather year after year, so that the people may never again suffer from floods.”

Her words were steady, and there was not a trace of fear on her face. Seeing this, the mayor’s expression brightened immediately, delight spreading across his features as he praised her loudly. “Good, good! You are indeed a sensible child. Do not worry—I will ensure that your name is recorded in the ancestral hall alongside the previous brides of He Bo. In the years to come, your descendants and the people of this town will remember your contribution!”

Hearing this, Tang Wan lowered her head slightly, her tone filled with apparent gratitude. “Many thanks, Mayor. That alone is enough to satisfy Wanwan.”

Her composed acceptance left the surrounding villagers momentarily speechless. They had expected fear, resistance, or even tears, yet Tang Wan displayed none of these. Instead, she appeared almost honored by her fate, which only made the others feel uneasy. Some exchanged glances, unable to understand her reaction, while others silently shook their heads.

Was she frightened out of her wits? This was not some imperial selection of concubines—it was a marriage to the River God. Did she not understand what that truly meant? Even if, by some miracle, she did survive long enough to be taken by He Bo, could she really accept such a being as her husband? Rumors described him as something far from human, a creature with a grotesque, fish-like form.

The more they thought about it, the more incredulous they became. In their hearts, they could only sigh in quiet disbelief, thinking that her current composure was nothing more than ignorance. When the time came for her to be placed upon the bamboo raft and pushed into the river’s unforgiving currents, she would surely come to understand what fear and regret truly meant.