Chapter 157 Jiang Yuanchan's Regret
Since that day, Jiang Yuanchan never saw Su Wanyin go to the mountain to collect herbs again.
The days passed by.
After several days, Jiang Yuanchan could no longer bear it. It felt like countless ants were crawling in his heart, and the torment was unbearable.
Finally, he could no longer suppress his worries and sneaked into Xiangyun Village to inquire about Su Wanyin's news.
However, when he heard the villagers' discussions, he was stunned as if struck by lightning.
All I heard was that she was chosen as a celestial maiden to be sacrificed.
This news was like a bolt from the blue, making Jiang Yuanchan unbelievable.
His eyes widened, and he eagerly grabbed a villager and asked, "How is this possible? Why is it her?"
The villagers shook their heads helplessly and sighed, saying, "This is an old tradition in the village. No one can change it. She is the right age. Our village chief divined in the ancient temple and chose her."
Jiang Yuanchan's heart felt like it was sinking into an ice cellar. He could not accept this cruel fact.
Why would Su Wanyin, who was always full of energy, kind and innocent, be sacrificed?
He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, and swore to himself that he must find a way to save her.
It must be that white-browed monster’s doing!
The white-browed man they met on the mountain that day was the only son of the old village chief of Xiangyun Village.
This abominable guy, after failing to tease Su Wanyin, came up with a vicious plan.
They falsely accused her, a foreigner, of stealing the village treasure of Xiangyun Village.
He spread rumors everywhere in the village, describing the so-called "theft" with exaggeration, portraying Su Wanyin as an unforgivable thief.
Under his instigation, the villagers who did not know the truth became outraged and clamored for severe punishment of the "criminal."
Thus, under the malicious manipulation of this white-browed man, poor Su Wanyin was destined to be sacrificed.
He looked triumphantly at the situation he had created, his heart filled with the pleasure of revenge.
He had no idea what consequences his evil deeds would bring.
Jiang Yuanchan wanted to save Su Wanyin, but something unexpected happened too quickly.
On the day of the sacrifice in Xiangyun Village, when he arrived anxiously, the person tied to the altar was not Su Wanyin.
At that moment, Jiang Yuanchan's head was buzzing, and his heart and eyes were filled with Su Wanyin's figure.
He had no time to care about anything else. He was only thinking about finding Su Wanyin, so he hurriedly left the village.
He searched everywhere like a headless fly, not missing any possible corner, searching the nearby mountains and forests, and asking passers-by, but to no avail.
By the time he had no way out and was forced to return to Xiangyun Village, it was already too late.
Su Wanyin and another woman were being chased madly by angry villagers, their faces full of fear and despair.
The villagers' shouting and footsteps were like a death spell, pressing them down.
On the edge of the cliff, Su Wanyin and the woman had nowhere to retreat and finally chose to jump off.
Jiang Yuanchan witnessed this scene with his own eyes, and his heart instantly broke into countless pieces.
His eyes widened instantly, filled with disbelief and endless pain.
Without any hesitation, he also jumped down not far away without hesitation.
The rushing river hit his body and the freezing cold water made his limbs gradually numb, but he had only one belief in his heart, and that was to find Su Wanyin.
He groped desperately in the water. His eyes were almost shut by the current, but he still refused to give up.
Hard work pays off. After a lot of effort downstream, he finally touched the corner of Su Wanyin's clothes.
He used up all his last strength to pull Su Wanyin tightly to his side, then swam hard towards the shore.
After reaching the shore, he hugged her tightly, as if she would disappear again if he let go, his heart filled with both relief and fear for surviving the disaster.
He looked at the unconscious Su Wanyin and vowed secretly that he would never let her get hurt again.
Later, after Su Wanyin's injuries healed, Jiang Yuanchan resolutely took her to a strange place and started a new chapter in her life.
Life in this new place of settlement was extremely hard.
The dilapidated houses seemed to be crumbling in the wind and rain, the clothes made of coarse cloth were patched with layers of patches, and the daily diet was just a simple meal that could barely fill the stomach.
But even so, the two of them always leaned on each other and supported each other. The warmth that permeated the humble room was like a warm current, warming each other's hearts.
Relying on his amazing and superb medical skills, Su Wanyin opened an inconspicuous herb shop in a busy street corner.
She has a compassionate heart and does her best to treat every patient who comes to her for help.
Gradually, her reputation for curing diseases with miraculous healing skills spread far and wide.
She worked tirelessly day and night, and used the little income she earned through hard work to support Jiang Yuanchan's studies wholeheartedly.
I fully expect him to shine in the imperial examination and secure a bright future for himself.
They held an extremely simple wedding, without luxurious decorations, grand ceremony, or complicated etiquette.
However, in that simple ceremony, two passionate hearts embraced each other tightly, and their true love shone brightly like bright stars.
As the seemingly ordinary yet extremely beautiful time slowly passed, not long after, Su Wanyin gave birth to Jiang Lingyin.
The birth of this little life is like the first ray of warm sunshine penetrating through the clouds in the early morning.
This small family, which is already full of love and hope, has been added with endless joy and beautiful visions for the future.
It was also in that year that the wheel of fate began to turn in an unpredictable way.
They accidentally met the current emperor Li Zhuo and the empress Zong Zheng Fu Yue, as well as Ye Wenjing's parents Ye Nanzhao and He Ruoyunsheng.
At that time, Li Zhuo encountered a dangerous assassination attempt and was in critical condition, his life was in danger.
In this remote corner of the south of the Yangtze River, he encountered many setbacks in his search for medical treatment and almost fell into the abyss of despair.
With nowhere else to turn and no other options available, they held on to the last glimmer of hope and hurriedly sought help from Su Wanyin's small herb shop.
When Su Wanyin heard this, without even the slightest hesitation, she dropped everything she was doing and devoted herself to treating Li Zhuo.
She stayed by the bedside day and night, carefully preparing each prescription and observing every subtle change in the condition with a keen eye.
After her tireless and meticulous care day and night, Li Zhuo's condition finally showed signs of improvement and gradually recovered.
This treatment, like an invisible yet extremely strong bond of destiny, bound them closely together and forged a deep and indelible friendship between them.
From then on, their destinies seemed to be inextricably linked.
The rest of the story is smooth and cliché.
Li Zhuo ascended the throne, Zong Zheng Fu Yue was crowned queen, Jiang Yuanchan became the top scorer in the imperial examination, and Ye Nanzhao became the general.
Jiang Yuanchan indeed brought Su Wanyin and Jiang Lingyin, mother and daughter, to the capital in a grand manner.
Jiang Yuanchan hugged Su Wanyin's tablet and burst into tears.
"The ending of the story should be that our family of three is together..."