The ancestors still wanted to scold Lei Chengjing for his alarmist talk, but upon careful consideration, they also found something amiss. When the Lei family first married into the Qiu family, their legitimate children were all normal and healthy. It was only after children with Qiu family blood married into the Qiu family twice more that the newborns began to be abnormal and sickly. Perhaps they only discovered this then, rather than it appearing then.
What was even more peculiar was that initially, only the legitimate children of the Lei family patriarch were ill, while the illegitimate children were all healthy. Over hundreds of years, by the time of the current Lei family patriarch, not only were his legitimate children ill, but even his illegitimate children were abnormal, not to mention the dwindling lineage.
Could it really be so?
After much thought, the same ancestor who had spoken earlier asked, "Chengjing, do you have any solutions?"
"Ancestor, you are so intelligent, after hearing all this, how could you not have a solution?"
This ancestor was momentarily speechless and glanced at Lei Chengjing without speaking.
The others also knew the solution, but they still couldn't believe it, let alone dare to mention it.
Seeing their silence, Lei Chengjing said, "Ancestor, you know the solution but do not speak, is it because of the attached conditions of that marriage contract?"
The marriage contract was established by the Lei family ancestors. They were all juniors and it was inappropriate to disrespect their elders. Therefore, even though they knew the reason, they dared not propose canceling the marriage contract, especially since the current Qiu family was beyond the Lei family's ability to compare with, and they were reluctant to cancel it.
Then there was only one solution: the marriage contract remained, but the person changed. The legitimate children of the Lei family would be replaced by illegitimate children. However, this would conflict with the attached condition of the marriage contract, which stipulated that the patriarch's wife could only be a legitimate daughter of the Qiu family. With legitimate sons present, the Lei family would never allow an illegitimate son to inherit the position of patriarch.
"Chengjing, you know these things, so you should know what troubles us."
"Ancestor, Chengjing knows that the Lei family cannot abandon this marriage with the Qiu family, but the Lei family cannot continue like this. We must find a solution that satisfies both parties."
Lei Chengjing met the gaze of that ancestor with determination. After a moment, they both spoke in unison: "Remove the attached conditions."
That's right, as long as the condition that the Lei family patriarch's wife must be a legitimate daughter of the Qiu family was removed, this would be the best solution that satisfied both parties. They did not consider replacing the legitimate daughter of the Qiu family with a collateral branch daughter, because although the Lei family was not what it used to be, it was still a prominent family on the Azure Continent, and the Lei family patriarch's wife could not be a collateral branch daughter of the Qiu family.
"But will the Qiu family agree?" asked the other ancestors who had recovered from their shock.
"Yes," the Lei family patriarch said with certainty. Seeing their confusion, the patriarch explained, "Today, the Qiu family patriarch and his wife came. Because Chengjing and his fifth young master both disagreed with this marriage, they also knew that this marriage contract could not be broken. The Qiu family matriarch took the initiative to mention the matter between her seventh young lady and Cheng Yan. It seems the Qiu family also agrees."
"Since the Qiu family agrees, then let's proceed with this."
Madame Lei had no objections to this final decision, as long as it did not affect her son's position as patriarch. Moreover, if she insisted on her son marrying her niece, then her husband's current situation would be her son's future, and she did not want her son to have such a future.
Seeing that the matter was resolved, Lei Chengjing withdrew. As he walked out of the study, he looked into the distance and smiled faintly.
"Young master, what is it?" asked Lei Chengjing's personal attendant with concern.
"Everything is exactly as that young lady said," Lei Chengjing's tone carried a hint of longing.
"You mean..."
While the Lei family was discussing, the next day the Lei family patriarch and Madame Lei informed the Qiu family patriarch and his wife of this decision. They then consulted with their own ancestors.
This marriage contract was merely to strengthen the ties between the two families and had no other purpose for the Qiu family. Moreover, the Lei family ancestors had told them everything Lei Chengjing had said yesterday. They also knew the experiences of the daughters who married into the Lei family. The Lei family ancestors also promised that the future status of the Qiu family daughters would be only slightly lower than that of the patriarch's wife. Coupled with Qiu Yuanxi's persuasion, the Qiu family ancestors also agreed.
Thus, the marriage contract between Qiu Yuanxi and Lei Chengjing was transferred to the Lei family's fifth young master and the Qiu family's seventh young lady. When this news spread, it also announced that the Lei family patriarch's wife would no longer be a legitimate daughter of the Qiu family, causing much discussion in the outside world. However, none of this concerned Qiu Yuanxi, who was currently informing Ling Luoyi of the news.
"Xiao Luo'er, isn't it strange? My parents never agreed to my breaking off the engagement before, but now they agreed so easily? And what's going on with my seventh sister and the Lei family's fifth young master? I originally wanted to object, but my mother said my seventh sister asked for it herself, so I couldn't object anymore..."
Qiu Yuanxi spoke to herself, but Ling Luoyi in the image was as expected and not surprised at all.
Seeing this, Qiu Yuanxi asked doubtfully, "Xiao Luo'er, could it have something to do with you?"
"Mm."
Seeing Ling Luoyi admit it, Qiu Yuanxi became anxious and said, "Xiao Luo'er, how could you do this? The Lei family is cursed. Although I didn't want to marry into it, I never thought of harming my sister!"
Qiu Yuanxi didn't want her sister to marry into the Lei family, which was why she had always wanted to cancel the engagement, rather than asking Madame Qiu to change the person.
"A Yuan, the Lei family will not give up the marriage contract with the Qiu family, and it is difficult for the Qiu family to propose breaking off the engagement when the Lei family is in decline. Therefore, this is the best solution. The two of them are in love, do you want to break them up?"
"But... Xiao Luo'er, the people in the Lei family are not in good health. Although they are both prominent families, other families have prosperous offspring, only the Lei family has dwindling offspring. I'm afraid my seventh sister will suffer the same fate as my aunt if she marries in." Qiu Yuanxi hesitated for a moment before telling Ling Luoyi about this.
"A Yuan, the Lei family's dwindling offspring is due to the generational marriage with the Qiu family..." Ling Luoyi also told Qiu Yuanxi the reason for the Lei family's dwindling offspring. The reason for the Lei family's dwindling offspring was nothing more than the result of frequent consanguineous marriages over the years.
In fact, Ling Luoyi was also somewhat surprised, but what surprised her was that after a thousand years, the Lei family patriarch still had legitimate children, although their lifespan was short.
After listening to Ling Luoyi, Qiu Yuanxi found it hard to believe, but recalling the difference in her aunt's situation, she had to believe it.
"Xiao Luo'er, is there no solution?"
"No."
Even the 23rd century could not solve the consequences of consanguineous marriage, let alone this era. Although spiritual and immortal power could prolong life, they could not change this genetic problem. Therefore, if the Lei family wanted to continue and not break off the marriage contract with the Qiu family, they could only have the Lei family patriarch's illegitimate son marry the Qiu family patriarch's daughter.
Qiu Yuanxi trusted Ling Luoyi greatly, so upon hearing her words, she couldn't help but worry about her seventh sister.
Seeing this, Ling Luoyi comforted her, "A Yuan, don't worry. I investigated the Lei family. Although the legitimate young masters of the Lei family are not in good health due to the Lei family patriarch, the fifth young master is in better condition and has a good disposition, so he is the most suitable candidate. Although he is illegitimate, with the Qiu family's support, your seventh sister will not live poorly. As for your seventh sister's children, you are still there, aren't you?"
"Even so, Xiao Luo'er, you didn't even tell me about something as important as my seventh sister?" Qiu Yuanxi was still very concerned about this.
"A Yuan, but this matter was not done by me. I merely offered some suggestions."