The old marquis’s words completely opened up new thinking for the old madam and the marquis.
They both lowered their heads in deep thought, only then realizing that this method was truly the best strategy for a winner.
Their own methods were all foolish approaches of mutual destruction—hurting the enemy by a thousand while damaging themselves by eight hundred.
“Now that even the Duke has accepted a favor from the Marquis’ household, then in the future, even if I pass away, the Protector Duke, considering Yong’er and Xin’er, may not necessarily help the Marquis’ household, but at least he won’t step on us. In a better situation, he might even slightly protect the Marquis’ household when others target it. That is the greatest benefit.
After all, once a person dies, relationships fade. In unequal marital alliances, the weaker side is easily exploited and suppressed. As the old saying goes: ‘If you are wealthy in the deep mountains, you will still have distant relatives; if you are poor in a bustling city, no one knows you.’”
“Father, since you put it that way, I’ll also add ten thousand taels to make it a gift for the Sixth Girl!” Wang Yuanwu said after thinking for a moment.
The old madam kept replaying the old marquis’s words in her mind.
Thinking of the consequences, she broke into a cold sweat.
She had almost seen more than a dozen grandchildren of the Marquis’ household ruined by Madam Cui.
“Then I’ll also pick some jewelry and headpieces from my private collection to send to the Sixth Girl,” the old madam said hurriedly.
The old marquis glanced at his wife and eldest son and saw that they still did not understand the essence of the matter. He could not help but sigh.
“You think that by taking out these things, you’ve already shown the greatest sincerity of the Marquis’ household? Have you ever looked at this matter from another perspective?” the old marquis asked, unable to hold back.
Unfortunately, neither the old madam nor Wang Yuanwu understood his hint and looked at him blankly.
Seeing the two identical confused faces, a wave of helplessness surged in the old marquis’s heart.
What misfortune! What kind of pig teammates had he encountered!
It seemed that if he didn’t make things clear, this mother and son would never realize how extraordinary the Sixth Girl was—her intelligence was almost demonic.
“Ah Wu came to deliver confessions and witnesses. Don’t you think that’s strange?” the old marquis asked.
The old madam and Wang Yuanwu thought carefully for a moment, then shook their heads, indicating they found nothing unusual.
“Father, there’s nothing wrong with that,” Wang Yuanwu replied.
“Yuanwu, Ah Wu is the personal guard I sent to the Sixth Girl after she left the manor.
Do you still remember when I gave you your personal guards? How long did it take you to fully subdue them and earn their loyalty?” the old marquis asked casually.
Wang Yuanwu felt a little stung by his father’s words.
“One year,” he replied softly.
“Yes, one year. At that time, you were already married and preparing to inherit the marquis title. I was quite pleased then—you only needed a year to win over Ah Er and the others,” the old marquis said with emotion.
Wang Yuanwu also looked nostalgic, remembering events from over ten years ago.
The old madam did not interrupt and quietly listened. It was rare for the family of three to have such a peaceful conversation, and she felt quite content.
“But Yuanwu, have you noticed something? Ah Wu came today and didn’t say much at all.
Logically, since he handled this matter, he must have known Madam Cui’s scheme long ago. If he knew, yet only informed the Sixth Girl and not me—what do you think of that?” the old marquis asked slowly.
Only then did Wang Yuanwu and the old madam suddenly realize something was off.
An unbelievable thought emerged in their minds.
“Father…” Wang Yuanwu said in shock.
Could it be what he was thinking? No… impossible. It had only been such a short time—how could the Sixth Girl have done it?
The old marquis, seeing that Wang Yuanwu had understood, nodded without hesitation.
“Yes. If I am not mistaken, the Sixth Girl has already successfully won over Ah Wu.”
The old madam and Wang Yuanwu looked at him in disbelief.
“F-Father… t-that can’t be right? Ah Wu has only been by the Sixth Girl’s side for about a month,” Wang Yuanwu said in shock.
“Yes, less than a month—precisely twenty days.
In just twenty days, she made a secret guard willingly submit to her. That is not something ordinary people can do.
Back then, when I took over the shadow guards from your grandfather, it took me half a year before they truly acknowledged me.
These shadow guards were trained by our Marquis household, but because of their abilities, most of them were unruly and proud. To make such people willingly serve you is no easy task.
More importantly, we all took over the shadow guards as adults.
But the Sixth Girl is only six years old. Have you not considered what that means?”
The old marquis dropped a final bombshell.
That statement stunned both the old madam and Wang Yuanwu completely.
Only then did they realize the most unreasonable and unbelievable fact—
The Sixth Girl’s age: a six-year-old child.
Mother and son looked at each other, moving from confusion to shock, and then to excitement—their expressions fully revealing their emotional journey.
“Remember now?” the old marquis teased.
Wang Yuanwu steadied himself and asked, “Father, when did you realize this?”
The old marquis took another sip of tea, set it down, and asked:
“On New Year’s Eve, when the Sixth Girl subtly complained—didn’t you find it suspicious at all?
At that time, she was only five years old, not even six. Would a normal five- or six-year-old child dare to openly accuse her stepmother in front of the entire family, intentionally causing her stepmother to suffer a silent loss?”
Wang Yuanwu recalled the New Year’s banquet, where Wang Yutong had boldly complained in front of everyone. Why hadn’t he noticed anything strange then?
“At the time, I only thought she was unusually bold and sharp-minded, good at timing. By complaining during the New Year banquet, she ensured Madam Cui couldn’t punish her publicly and had to resolve it properly.
What made me pay attention to her was her willingness to leave the Marquis household so decisively. A six-year-old child, without crying or making a fuss, even negotiating with you and successfully obtaining a residence and estate.
No matter how you look at it, she was exceptionally talented and intelligent.
Across all families, who has ever seen a six-year-old like that?
What finally made me value her and give her shadow guards was when she said that if the Marquis household could not find suitable people, she would go to the slave market to buy them herself—but she would not lower her standards.
Do you know what that represents?”
The old marquis asked in return.
Wang Yuanwu shook his head, indicating he did not understand.