Lady Qian once again attempted to manipulate Shen Jiangbei by threatening to kill herself. Unlike his usual pattern of compromise, Shen Jiangbei stood tall.
"I cannot control your life or death," he said, his tone resolute, "but I cannot ignore my daughter's future. Chen'er is only fifteen, yet you intend to marry her off to a man nearly forty years old. If you have no regard for our daughter’s life, why should I have any regard for yours?"
Lady Qian was stunned, taken aback by his sudden display of backbone. She collected herself and softened her tone. "I am truly doing this for Chen'er’s sake. A woman must marry eventually; is it not a good thing to marry a second-rank official?"
Chapter 216