Chapter 1169: The River God’s Bride 4

In the end, Tang Wan’s calm and willing attitude eased much of the tension in the crowd. At the very least, this time the chosen bride was not weeping or resisting, but accepting her fate without protest, and that alone was enough to make the townspeople feel reassured. With the candidate confirmed, the gathering gradually dispersed, each household returning home to make preparations, all waiting for the auspicious day three days later when they would gather by the riverbank to witness the marriage of He Bo.

Once only the Tang family remained, the fragile composure that had been maintained in public finally shattered. Tang mother rushed forward and pulled Tang Wan tightly into her arms, tears streaming down her face as her voice trembled with distress. “Wanwan, have you lost your mind? What honor is there in this? To become the bride of He Bo… that’s a death sentence!” Her words were choked with grief, her hands clutching Tang Wan as though afraid she might disappear at any moment.

At this, Father Tang’s expression darkened. He shot her a sharp, reprimanding look and said sternly, “Why are you crying like this? Our Wanwan was personally chosen by He Bo through a dream—is that not a blessing? Think about it carefully. Our Tang family has always kept a low profile. We’ve never offended the wealthy nor had close ties with the mayor’s household. There are so many families in this town—if He Bo had not specifically named her, why would the mayor choose Wanwan? This is fate. It’s not something you can simply refuse!”

“But… but Wanwan will die!” Tang mother could not help but protest, her usually gentle nature giving way under the weight of her fear. “Have you forgotten Cui Cui? We saw with our own eyes how she was drowned in the river!”

Father Tang immediately lowered his voice, his tone turning harsh as he cut her off. “Enough! That was because the floods that year were especially severe! And after Cui Cui was sent off, didn’t the floods subside at once? She was taken by Lord He to enjoy blessings, not drowned! What do you know? Stop saying such things and frightening Wanwan!”

Tang mother’s voice faltered, and though her tears continued to fall, she did not dare argue further. Instead, she held Tang Wan even tighter, as though trying to protect her in the only way she could.

Seeing this, Tang Wan gently eased herself out of her mother’s embrace. Her expression remained soft and composed as she spoke in a low, comforting voice, “Mother, you don’t need to worry about me. Nothing will happen to your daughter. Even if something does… then it is simply my fate, and I will accept it without fear.”

Her calm acceptance only caused Tang mother’s tears to fall more heavily, each drop carrying her helplessness and sorrow. Father Tang, on the other hand, merely fell silent, saying nothing more as they made their way home.

By the time they returned, Tang Wan’s two elder sisters and younger brother had already learned of what had happened. Both of her sisters were older than her—one was already married, while the other was engaged and would be wed by the end of the year. Only Tang Wan herself remained unbetrothed.

From this, it was not difficult for her to guess why she had been chosen. The Tang family had three daughters, and in a world where the lives of girls were often regarded as insignificant, losing one would not be considered a great loss. As for the claim that He Bo had personally named her in a dream, Tang Wan could not help but find it dubious. From what she knew of the original course of events, He Bo had never questioned the identity of the bride sent to him. Most likely, it did not matter which girl was chosen. As long as someone was placed upon the river, she would be recognized as the bride, and the so-called marriage contract would be established.

Not long after the news spread, Yuexiang came to visit, her face filled with worry. The moment she saw Tang Wan, her eyes reddened, clearly unable to hide her concern.

Tang Wan smiled at her, her demeanor relaxed and almost carefree as she spoke. “We’ve grown up together like sisters, and now that I’m to become the bride of He Bo, when the day comes, I will certainly pray for you to find a good husband soon.”

“Wanwan…” Yuexiang’s eyes instantly brimmed with tears. Looking at Tang Wan, she felt a surge of guilt and distress. If Tang Wan were to refuse, she could even take her place as the bride of He Bo. After all, she had no family, no ties that would hold her back. And yet… she hesitated. Deep down, there was still a part of her that feared such a fate, a part of her that could not bring herself to make that sacrifice.

In the end, she could only stand there, torn between gratitude, guilt, and an unspoken reluctance she could not overcome.