Sacrificial Bride

An unexpected visit

After hearing that the magistrate was looking for Shui, Shui and Jin looked at each other with a surprised expression. The town’s magistrate should have no normal business here in the countryside if it’s not for an inspection. It must be something very important if he had to come to the fields. However, the more pressing question is why he was looking for Shui and not her parents for discussion. Her heart sank when she thought maybe he wanted to propose a marriage to her. She doesn’t need another second to know she would reject such a proposal. He was a plump man in his forties, and shorter than her by 3 centimeters. Shui did not consider herself as shallow, but this was where she drew her lines. Her eyes moved to look at the man behind her. “Besides, my heart is already set on someone”, she said to herself.

“Help us bring down Jin’s barrels and we’ll hurry home”, Shui said to Lingyu as she unmounted from Madam Ma.

Jin unmounted from the horse as well and asked, “do you want me to come with you?”

Shui responded, “no. I’ll tell you about it later.” She did not want to alarm Jin if the issue could be easily resolved. She’ll wait and see how the magistrate plays his cards before involving Jin.

Jin’s eyes showed disagreement, but he decided to listen to Shui’s wishes. 

“Hey, are you two lovebirds going to help me or what?!”, Lingyu shouted.

The embarrassed Jin and Shui did not correct the young girl’s word choice. “Lovebirds”, Shui liked the word. 

“Alright, let’s do this”, Jin said as he unpacked the barrels.

In no time, the two sisters were ready to be on their way home.

Lingyu asked, “Sister, did you and brother Jin stay in the same room?”

Shui slapped her sister’s leg and said, “nonsense! Don’t ask me those silly questions again.” She felt terrible having to hide from her sister, but the young girl should not pry into an adult’s business. 

Lingyu giggled and said, “that’s fine, sister. I won’t ask anymore. But I can take a guess and you cannot stop me from doing that.”

Shui rolled her eyes.

Lingyu then said, “I won’t tell our parents. I’m happy you two are expressing your feelings finally.” 

Shui slapped her sister’s leg again and said, “that’s enough. We will not talk about this anymore.”

Shui then whipped Madam Ma to ride faster toward home. She was ready to get away from this topic and find out why the magistrate had looked for her.

Feeling like it took an eternity, the sisters finally arrived home. Upon entering through the front door, Lingyu and Shui were met by not just the magistrate, but also a priestess. 

“Good evening father, mother, magistrate Li and priestess Xiao”, both sisters said. 

Looking at just magistrate Li and priestess Xiao, Shui said, “I wasn’t expecting such a visit. How can the Chen family help you?”

“Shui, you do know the state of the land. I have invited priestess Xiao to your home regarding this matter…” The magistrate trailed off, looking uncomfortable and shifting eyes to the priestess as a sign of help.

“Chen family, I am here today to implore you for help. Our once prosperous land has begun to dry. We have to try again to appease the water god.”

Farmer Chen felt suspicious that it had to involve his daughter Shui.

Priestess Xiao continued endearingly, “Shui, I have known you for so long. I have seen you grow up beautifully. Your spirit is pure, your heart is strong… You are also the only girl in the village who was born in the year of the snake. Your attributes complement our town’s benefactor. I have come to ask you to be the bride of the water god.”