Later, Jiao'e was forced to marry the man who had shamed her, but because she had lost her virginity before marriage, her days in her husband's family were far from easy.
Her husband had a particularly close female cousin, who had once been on the verge of discussing marriage. Due to the setup that Jiao'e fell into, both her husband and the cousin harbored a great dislike for her.
The man thought Jiao'e had been immodest and seduced him, and the woman thought it was Jiao'e who had blocked the happiness that should have been hers.
During the annual ritual to honor the gods, the cousin was chosen. She was terrified, knowing that brides chosen for the ritual never returned. Thus, the cousin and her husband plotted to have Jiao'e take her place in the sacrifice.
Jiao'e naturally refused, repeatedly declining and stating that she was pregnant.
Pregnant women were not allowed to be offered as tribute brides, for fear of angering the Mountain God.
