Update:
I got it the first draft finished.
Also, I need some advice.
The major storyline of this book is, basically, a romance between a 30 year old man and a 14 year old girl.
Bear with me ...
I wrote her that young because I thought the story worked out better that way. Some of the things that happen, it just seemed to work out better with her that young. Besides, this is feudal China (or a vague approximation thereof), and thirteen was considered marrying age so far as my research has led me to believe. The age difference also fit in with my running theme of them both facing down nearly impossible odds together.
They don't become a couple all at once, they grow into it over time, especially after they go through something very traumatic together. There's no explicit sexual content between them, in fact I never acknowledge it directly, but it is plain that their relationship has progressed to that somewhat past the halfway point of the story. I treat it just like a normal relationship.
I'm not out to be controversial, I honestly think the story works better with her being that age.
So I'd just like to get some thoughts on that. Should I make her older? Leave her the same age but add some lines about them remaining celibate until she is reunited with her family and can get permission to marry? Keep it as is?