Farmer girl swaps husbands: buys a sickly villain and pampers him

Chapter 268 Smashing the Foot
Jiang Yihuan never expected that Marquis Jing'an would take away her power over managing the household affairs.

A lady without power is like a cat without claws—utterly intimidating. Besides, she's used to freely drawing money; forcing her to ask others for it is worse than death. Most importantly… Xiao Yanci is always asking her for money. If she loses her control over the household affairs, she won't be able to satisfy Xiao Yanci's appetites, and then he'll definitely cause her trouble.

"My lord, you know about our Lin'er's situation, if..." Jiang Yihuan covered her face and wept.

"I heard that the Marquis of Jing'an's heir was born prematurely, and because of that, his health has never been very good," Su Yaoguang asked. "Since Jing'er is here, she can take the Marquis of Jing'an's heir's pulse and check his health. Actually, not every premature baby is weak; some can be cured."

A look of panic flashed in Jiang Yihuan's eyes.

“No need. The imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital have examined Lin’er and confirmed that he is just a case of premature birth. As long as he is carefully cared for, he will be fine when he grows up.” Jiang Yihuan said, then hugged and shook the Marquis Jing’an’s arm, pleading, “My lord, it’s not that I’m greedy for this power over the household affairs, it’s just that Lin’er needs careful attention. If I don’t manage the affairs of the inner quarters, will I have to report everything in advance? Our Lin’er is so weak, how can he withstand so many rules?”

"My lord, should we have Jing'er examine your son?" Su Yaoguang continued, "If a young master is so weak that he can't do this or that, and is always hesitant and timid, even if he grows up, he'll probably find it difficult to uphold the honor of your household. While there's still time, you should start taking care of him as soon as possible. Of course, if my lord doesn't want his son to grow into a strong and upright man, then just pretend we didn't say anything. We've been meddling in other people's business today."

"Someone, bring the young prince over here," Marquis Jing'an called out.

Jiang Yihuan's face turned very ugly.

Su Yaoguang and her group are all her nemesis. Especially Su Yaoguang, she's like a persistent jinx, she's everywhere.

If that bitch Jiang Jing sees Lin'er, won't she discover something?

Jiang Yihuan felt increasingly guilty, but she couldn't stop them from bringing Lin'er over, otherwise Marquis Jing'an would become even more suspicious.

Not long after, the wet nurse came over carrying the several-month-old baby.

Jiang Yihuan warmly took the baby and looked tenderly at the child in her arms: "Little Lin'er, did you miss your parents? Come, look, your parents are here."

When Marquis Jing'an saw the child's adorable little face, his eyes were filled with the tenderness of a loving father.

Su Yaoguang looked at the child and felt that something was strange about him no matter how she looked at him.

Jiang Jing whispered in her ear, "She's not premature."

Without even taking the baby's pulse, Jiang Jing could tell from the baby's condition that the baby was not premature.

If the child was not premature, but was born shortly after she entered the household, and it was claimed to be premature, then there is only one possibility: the child is not the Marquis of Jing'an's.

Jiang Yihuan pretended to hand the child to Jiang Jing, but as soon as the child got close to Jiang Jing, the child started crying loudly.

Jiang Yihuan looked heartbroken, holding the child and comforting him, and said to Marquis Jing'an, "My lord, as you can see, our child has never seen them before and is shy."

The First Madam said, "Let me hold you!"

"Madam, you're still sick, it's not appropriate for you to hold a child!" Jiang Yihuan's eyes flashed with disdain.

She's so sick, she might die at any moment, yet she still wants to hold her child.

The First Madam didn't hold her rude words against her at all; her magnanimity even made Marquis Jing'an feel a little sorry for her.

“I’m still sick and not fit to hold the baby, but my nanny has been raising children for decades and is the best at taking care of them. Let her hold the baby!”

Those who fell into the water have already been carried out.

Although they had woken up, they felt it was inappropriate to stay there any longer after such an embarrassing incident, so they left before anyone noticed them.

Now, only the people from the Marquis of Jing'an's residence and guests like Su Yaoguang remain here.

Before Jiang Yihuan could refuse, the old nanny took the child away.

The child stopped crying soon after being taken in by the old nanny.

So, Jiang Jing could take his pulse.

Jiang Yihuan watched Jiang Jing's movements nervously.

She had already planned it out: if Jiang Jing said anything detrimental to her, such as the child not being premature, she would insist that they were trying to sow discord.

She'd bribed so many doctors; they could all testify that it was a premature baby. If things escalated, she could bring those doctors over for a confrontation. She refused to believe that the Marquis of Jing'an would disregard the words of seven or eight doctors and instead believe the words of a young girl.
Su Yaoguang and Jiang Jing exchanged a glance.

The latter said, "The young master does indeed have some health issues. It's not convenient for him to take medicine at his age. The wet nurse should eat more good food and feed him milk so that he can recover."

"Does the child have any other problems?" Marquis Jing'an asked.

"Although there are some symptoms of deficiency, it's not a big problem; it will get better after a period of rest. As for other things, there is one, but I don't know if I should say it."

"Dr. Jiang, please speak," said Marquis Jing'an. "As a physician, there are some illnesses that cannot be concealed. Just tell me what's wrong with your child."

When Jiang Jing mentioned the illness, Jiang Yihuan thought these people had a change of heart and finally didn't want to cause her any more trouble. But she was too optimistic. She knew these people were malicious and wouldn't give up until they saw her suffer. But this time, she wouldn't lose. She had finally managed to marry a man like Marquis Jing'an; she was sure she would become a marquis's wife, enjoying a life of wealth and luxury.

Her child is her biggest bargaining chip; she will absolutely not let anything happen to the child.

“This is my child, I know better than anyone whether he has any problems or not. We’ve all heard of Dr. Jiang’s medical skills. Actually, he doesn’t necessarily have to diagnose any problems for others. Sometimes, he can just say that someone is perfectly healthy.” Jiang Yihuan said sarcastically.

“The child’s body is very healthy, but I think his brain seems to be…” Jiang Jing hesitated before continuing.

"What do you mean by this?" Marquis Jing'an frowned.

A strange light flashed in the First Madam's eyes.

Marquis Jing'an had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this chubby little boy. She certainly felt distressed about the child, but she never considered harming him. Regardless of the grudges between the adults, the child was the most innocent. Therefore, no matter how much the First Madam hated that despicable couple, she never thought of hurting the child.

Judging from Jiang Jing's words, the child still has problems?

“What I mean is that he looks like his brain isn’t developing properly; he might be mentally challenged,” Jiang Jing said. “My lord, there are developmental milestones for children his age. A child this age shouldn’t have such dull eyes. Look, I’m waving something in front of him, and he doesn’t even react.”

“Impossible, you’re the idiot. My son can’t be an idiot,” Jiang Yihuan cursed. “Even if you’re at odds with me, you shouldn’t curse my child.”

Marquis Jing'an listened to this advice.

He had seen many children and knew exactly how they should react.

"Someone come here..." said Marquis Jing'an, "to summon the imperial physician..."

Since it concerned his child, Marquis Jing'an dared not take it lightly and immediately invited the best doctor in the capital to come here to examine his son.

“If there’s nothing else here, let’s go somewhere else for tea!” the First Madam said. “I don’t think the Second Madam is in the mood to entertain guests anymore. I should personally receive the guests I invited. My Lord, please take your sister back to her courtyard and wait for the doctor to arrive.”

Jiang Yihuan really has no time to cause trouble now.

Her mind was filled with the question of whether her son was mentally challenged.

In fact, she hadn't really looked after him much; he had always been cared for by a wet nurse. Now, when asked about the child's reactions and changes, she couldn't answer.

The First Madam led Su Yaoguang and the others back to her courtyard.

Back in the courtyard, the Su sisters became even more curious about Jiang Jing's diagnosis. Earlier, in front of the Marquis, they had restrained themselves from asking directly. Now that the two people concerned about whether the child was mentally challenged weren't there, they could ask as many questions as they wanted.

"Jing'er, were you telling the truth just now, or were you just trying to upset Jiang Yihuan?" Zhang Pandi asked curiously.

Several pairs of eyes were fixed on Jiang Jing.

Jiang Jing said, "It's true. That child is most likely mentally challenged."

Su Yaoguang looked at the First Madam: "It seems that Jiang Yihuan's biggest bargaining chip is a useless child. First Madam, if the child is an idiot, then Marquis Jing'an will definitely be very angry."

"His most precious and anticipated child is this one. Perhaps that woman has some seductive skills, but sitting in this position, what kind of women hasn't he seen? Such a vulgar woman wouldn't make him favor a concubine over his wife. From the beginning, she has gained her current position by relying on this child. If the child is really useless, she will have no value to him."

“Madam, you must not underestimate this woman. She has survived to this day only because she is ruthless enough,” Su Yaoguang said. “If you knew what she had done in the past, you wouldn’t underestimate this opponent. Besides, if I’m not mistaken, this child is not the Marquis’s at all. She can have a child by borrowing a seed once, and she can have a child by borrowing a seed twice. Anyway, as long as the child is born and she says it’s the Marquis’s, as long as the Marquis is happy, her position will remain secure.”

"You say the child isn't the Marquis's, do you have any evidence?"

“That child wasn’t premature,” Jiang Jing said. “That’s the biggest evidence.”

“He was clearly not a premature baby, but Jiang Yihuan insists he was. If she’s not guilty, what is it?” Zhang Zhaodi said. “That woman has never been a virtuous wife; she’s been involved with several men at the same time. There’s a saying that old habits die hard. How can you expect her to change her ways?”

“If that’s the case, I just need to wait for her to dig her own grave,” the First Madam said. “By the way, Dr. Jiang, could you please check if my body is suitable for childbearing?”

"Madam's health is too weak right now, but if she rests for another six months, there shouldn't be any problem."

"But I haven't had any children all these years. My health wasn't as weak as it is now a few years ago, and I didn't have any children then either."

In her earlier years, her relationship with Marquis Jing'an was quite good, but in recent years her health has deteriorated, and she has been unable to satisfy his needs physically, which has led to a growing coldness in their relationship.

Actually, she didn't stop him; he had several concubines in his household. None of them had borne him any children. Three years ago, one of the concubines became pregnant, and everyone was overjoyed, including her, the head mistress of the household, thinking that the problem of the Marquis of Jing'an's lack of an heir had finally been resolved. Even though she felt bitter and distressed, she wholeheartedly arranged for people to take care of the concubine, but in the end, the concubine miscarried.

Because of that incident, Marquis Jing'an grew increasingly cold towards her. In his eyes, it was because she, as his legal wife, couldn't tolerate the illegitimate son that she had caused the child's death. In fact, she only learned the truth much later. It turned out that the concubine wasn't pregnant with the Marquis's child, but rather had become pregnant after a one-night stand with her former lover, her cousin, during a visit home. The concubine was timid and didn't dare to compromise the child's bloodline, so she tried every means to abort the child.

Aside from that period, only Jiang Yihuan gave birth to this child in the entire inner quarters. But judging from the current situation, even this child isn't the Marquis's.

Could she boldly speculate that the truly infertile ones were not the women like them, but rather the Marquis of Jing'an, the man who needed to conceive?

“Madam, childbirth is not solely the woman's responsibility; the man is equally important. If there is an opportunity another day, I will take the Marquis's pulse to see how his health is.”

Jiang Jing's words made the First Madam even more certain of her guess.

However, those men are always proud, and they would never admit that it was their problem.

"The imperial physician should have arrived by now. I wonder what the diagnosis is like," the First Madam muttered to herself. "Someone come here..."

She called out to the outside.

A servant entered.

The First Madam gave a few instructions, the gist of which was to inquire about the situation over there and ask what the imperial physician had said.

Not long after, the servant returned with news from the other side.

"Madam, the imperial physician said that the young prince is indeed not quite normal; he seems to lack mental capacity."

“If the child were not normal, it should have been discovered long ago. The fact that it hasn’t been discovered yet only shows that the second wife is not very popular,” Su Yaoguang said.

“That’s right. Generally speaking, wet nurses are experienced women who have had children themselves. They can tell if something is wrong with the child while they are feeding him. The fact that the wet nurse is afraid to speak up means that the lady of the house is not very friendly to them.”

“If I’m not mistaken, once this diagnosis comes out, that vicious woman Jiang Yihuan will try to shift the blame onto others, such as the wet nurses who fed the babies,” Su Yaoguang said. “I feel sorry for those wet nurses; I wonder if they can escape this calamity.”