15. Thinking about it

Lee Xiaoqing stood in front of the Elders with bulging eyes when she got present.

"What is this for?"

A whole set of jewellery perfect for small girls and a new set of clothes.

She loved cute and pretty things and her father already ordered clothes she would wear when she goes out. Her closets are literally filled with clothes so she wondered why.

"General Heng is giving reception. The girls got their sets today only you were busy as a bee and didn't receive yours."

Huh? General Heng? Grandfather from that person. She became dazed again and had a hard time to snap out as her servant coughed next to her couple times.

Lee family members snickered and had a really hard time not to start laughing loudly as they saw her expression. Too cute, even when she was dazed.

"Thanks to the elders. Thank you." Lan rushed to take the stuff and stood next to her quietly.

"Go back to your rooms. Your food was well today. Thank you as well." Her grandfather stood up and patted her head then he slowly turned her around and pushed out of the room.

Just when the door closed behind her, she heard a loud laugh and snapped out the daze.

"Let's go, miss. The bathwater is ready."

They knew she was bathing every day so they prepared warm water for her in advance.

Inside the main hall, everyone became serious after she was gone. Lee Weiming told them about the strange offer and were feeling that something might happen soon.

"Is that some kind of warning?" Everyone stared at Lee Weiming.

"Royals are moving again. I can see groups forming in school between children of people that work together. I think it warning that they might take a chance and try to connect themselves to us through marriage." His eyebrows furrowed as he thought about that option.

There was suddenly silence. Thinking about that possibility, their backs became cold.

"It seems we must choose partners for all children." Elder Lee made a decision.

The Emperor was actually heavily sick and even tho not many knew but those that watched his condition are certain about the whole situation. If Emperor...

Not even thinking about it he made a decision. After all, he has many friends. He can ask for their help. Luckily when times come for marriage and one of the partners is unwilling, the engagement can still peacefully be broken. Their world was indeed different...

"We should take a chance and talk to the families on General Hong's reception. I am sure that girls will have enough offers even now." Their grandmother was quite proud of them.

"Yes, they will have enough offers. If we prearrange marriage and they later chose someone else is not a big deal. As long it's not royal..." Elder Lee nodded but there was no smile or happiness.

He married his wife out of love. His children some accepted arranged marriages and some choose other spouses. There were not heavy rules about engagement or even marriage.

Woman or man can divorce and remarry. But when it's too many times, people look down on the family. So most people try to stay together with their partner or not remarry more than once.

While everyone had different thoughts, Lee Weiming had a problem. He must get engaged as well but his age is getting higher so if he gets engaged he must be sure.

"Can I choose my own? I'll think throughout before choosing. I am soon gonna have my age ceremony. If I get engaged now that means we have to get married right after that."

"No, you don't! Just choose someone younger." His grandmother had the idea but he refused.

"I know your thoughts but even then the girl will be still too young. I was reading some medicine books lately. Females that get children too early might die. I fear if we marry too early and she gets pregnant before her body is not strong enough..."

Thinking about her own age when she gave birth the first time his grandmother sighed deeply. "Yes, the female body is quite fragile. At that time when I gave birth to my first, I was luckily already older as we got married after he was back from war. Or better said one of the wars. But at that time my little sister married to scholar and gave birth to a child when she was just mere fifteen. The birth destroyed her body so she couldn't have any more children and her health was a week for years until she faltered. When she died she was not even twenty, leaving that child alone. Luckily the woman that married her husband after her death was a good person and treated the child as her own. Even on dowry she didn't skimp and added many good things. She even didn't let her stepdaughter to get married before she was not almost twenty."

Some people get married right after age ceremony but most marry when they choose. In this case, they can comfortably look for someone around his age.

Lee Weiming released his breath. He knew the story about his great aunt and did not want any woman to have the same destiny...