Wei's answer left everybody in a state of deadlock, especially Jiang Ruiling. She felt as if she had a lot of things to say, but then she felt as if she was slapped hard on her face.

She wanted to accuse him of hiding this from her, yet at the same time, she couldn't find any sound argument against him. She couldn't find any fallacy in his logic.

At that moment, she realized that she was too arrogant and dug her own grave.

Wei was right. If she was so confident that she was mature enough to handle everything on her own, then she should have thought about risks and their solutions.

Why did she think that such a huge plan like this would go unhindered and sail smoothly without any hiccups?

Wei tilted his head. "I should say that you should have prepared for this more than ever since you had nobody to rely on. You had kept your plan a secret. You didn't include anybody so everything was on your shoulders alone. In such cases, you need to be even more cautious because there is nobody to help you if something goes wrong."

Jiang Ruiling lowered her head. She felt as if she completely lost her face.

Lihua put her hands on her waist. "Wei! How could you do this to her?"

Wei pursed his lips. "She said she didn't want any help."

"She did but that doesn't mean we will back out just like that. If we know that she will get in trouble, it's our responsibility to warn her!"

Hearing his wife berating him made him droop his head in sadness. He could never see Lihua angry at him.

"If you had told her, she wouldn't have to suffer so much by this man's hand."

Wei quickly said, "This wasn't in the plan. I know that Shi Ruomei was going to reveal her plan to Wen Yaoting and bring him in. In that, this man wasn't supposed to actually assault Ruiling for real. She wanted him to replace Wen Yaoting's place so that he will push Shen Yang and her on the bed together and then expose their relationship."

Lihua blinked her eyes. "So why did he try to attack her then?"

Shen Yang's expression turned cold. "I am sure it's Wen Yaoting. When he heard Miss Ruomei's plan, he would have added this at the last moment. He would have been furious to know that the young mistress is plotting against him so to take revenge, he said that he wants this goon to actually assault her!"

His chest heaved up and down as he took angry breaths.

That bastard...

Lihua harrumphed. "Nevertheless Wei, you should have still informed Jiang Ruiling about this. You are her cousin and like her elder brother. How could you see your sister in trouble?"

Wei looked so pitiful that anybody's heart would have melted at that adorable sight but it didn't even faze Lihua.

Jiang Ruiling lifted her gaze and met hers. She felt the sincerity in her voice and couldn't help but feel touched. Even though she admonished her so badly and hurt her feelings, she was still ready to stand up for her.

"T-thank you…" she whispered

Lihua smiled. "Hoho thank me when we get out of this situation."

"Will you help me?"

Shen Yang deeply bowed. "Madam Lixue, Boss. Please help us."

"Of course I will! That is what a family is for!" She patted her shoulder. "Right, Wei?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

Wei hastily nodded. "En. We will help you."

He didn't want to make his wife any angrier.

A soft smile lit her lips and warmth spread in her heart.

"Hmm...so Shi Ruomei wants you two to be seen together and then expose your relationship…" Lihua touched her chin. "Honestly, I would have told you to reveal it yourself even if the Old Madam will oppose it. There is no need to hide your love. You are not doing anything wrong by loving Shen Yang. We are free to love who we want."

Jiang Ruiling gave a wry smile. "Indeed. But Old Madam doesn't understand it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been forced to take this step. And...as long as Shen Yang loves me and I love him, that's enough for me. I don't feel the need to tell everyone. Sometimes, there is no need to fight pointless battles when we can manipulate the situation to our benefit. That's what I wanted to do."

Lihua coughed.

"Did you learn that from your grandfather?"

She smiled. "I learned that from Mom too. She is a politician's daughter, and she has imbibed those teachings in me. You know how politicians are. They know how to secretly pull the strings to achieve their target. That's why I wanted Old Madam to agree to Shen Yang and my marriage without her realizing that we actually have feelings for each other."

Lihua raised her brow. "It's interesting. And yes, I would have advised you to come out with your feelings, but in this situation when you are supposed to be engaged to Wen Yaoting, it will only add oil to the fire…" she sighed.

There was a beat of silence.

"But I think that we can still work out this situation to our favor."

Shen Yang and Jiang Ruiling were surprised. "How?"

"Admit your mistake."

She blinked her eyes in confusion. "What mistake?"

"Your plan of trying to frame Wen Yaoting. Tell everybody that you staged this."

"W-what?"

"Why do you look at me so shocked? You were ready for everyone to think that you were violated which wasn't supposed to be even true. Whereas I am making you own up to your plan and apologize for something that you actually did."

She coughed in embarrassment.

"But how will it help me?"

Lihua smiled. "I know people would be shocked to know that you did this but...If we handle it rightly, then it will surely help us."