The scent of burning incense filled the quiet room, the fragrant smell of high-quality tea hitting your nose as you kneel on the cushion as you come face-to-face with your now fiancée Liao Xiuming of the Great Liao Clan. The room was elegantly decorated, no expense was spared – as expected of the great Liao clan, one of the top martial art families in the Empire. Liao Xiuming gave a small smile and gave you a respectful bow.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady."

He was once the pride of the family but was called a disgrace due to the fact he had a daughter out of wedlock. Especially in this world where men can get pregnant are viewed as homemakers and are expected to be chaste while the women lead. And though martial families were a bit more lenient with men allowing them a bit of freedom by practicing martial arts and getting a better education than most they are still at the end part of society.

Additionally, people in the Liao family who have illegitimate children are seen as disgraces no matter how great they are because of their heavy emphasis on their values or whatnot. Liao Xiuming was a known name, he was a prodigy and as he grew older he showed talent in martial arts, in fact, he was on his way to becoming heir despite being male.

But then one day he got pregnant by some unknown commoner and everyone talked. The Liao family buried the issue and quietly pushed him aside even with his talents. He had a daughter named Lian An that the Liao family keeps hidden. From having stacks of letters asking for his hand, every family avoid marrying Xiuming like a plague now. Your family decided the benefits of you marrying the disgraced Liao was better than marrying some unknown martial family, so here you are now.

"Is there anything you'd like, my lady? I hope the tea and treats are to your liking."

He said with a calm voice.