Lu Yun's five children and the four boys from the Zuo family hit it off immediately and soon started playing together.
However, because Zuo Jiuji was the youngest and had short legs, he couldn't keep up with his older brothers and had to spend his days with the less-than-two-year-old Si Zai and Lu Hu.
After some time together, Zuo Jiuji discovered that the other three triplets were also remarkable. Hua Hua could command small animals, Rui Rui was a strongman, and Yi Yi could keenly sense people's moods or emotions, as if he could see through their hearts.
From then on, Jiuji secretly decided to stick close to these four future powerhouses, follow them, and be sure to have a boundless future.
He wanted to ensure his parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and everyone in the family lived good lives and were never bullied again.
One day, Xiao Gu handed Bai Sheng a letter, saying it was delivered by a servant from Minister Zhou's household.
Bai Sheng had a rough idea of what it was about.
It was said that after Princess Xin Yao's face was healed, she actively participated in various banquets and social events hosted by the scions of noble families, generously showcasing her recovered beauty. Furthermore, she did not hide who had cured her face.
She wanted Zhou Yanran and Dong Xue Rou to know who had treated her face, and that person would absolutely not treat them.
She wanted them to taste despair and pain. If they went to cause trouble for Bai Sheng, it would be even better.
Bai Sheng's fame thus spread throughout the capital, and everyone learned of the remarkable beautification skills of Bai Dong Jia from Hong Fen Jia Ren.
This time, the letter from the Zhou family was undoubtedly related to Zhou Yanran's facial treatment.
Bai Sheng opened the letter, and indeed, it was as she expected.
In the letter, the matriarch of the Zhou family, with an arrogant tone, briefly offered Bai Sheng an apology and then asked her to go to the Zhou mansion to treat Zhou Yanran's face, promising generous compensation.
Consort Mei scoffed, "Hmph, the Zhou family really thinks highly of themselves, believing everyone will curry favor with them. How ridiculous. Xiao Sheng, you won't treat their faces, will you?"
Bai Sheng smiled slightly, "Unless they give me all the evidence of the Dong family's plotting against my maternal grandfather, I won't go, even if Minister Zhou comes to escort me in a grand sedan chair."
"I think, if they're pushed into a corner, they won't use a grand sedan chair; they might resort to insidious means to force you," Consort Mei worriedly said.
"If they dare, let them come," Bai Sheng smiled slightly.
Two days later, the Dong family also sent a similar letter, but Bai Sheng had Ah Qiu throw it away without even looking.
Seeing that the letters had no effect, the Zhou and Dong families sent servants again to invite Bai Sheng.
After listening to the servants, Bai Sheng said nothing and had Uncle Ding and Xiao Gu escort them out.
Before the servants left, they did not forget to threaten Bai Sheng, "You, a mere small merchant, shouldn't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
"Get lost!" Bai Sheng threw two throwing darts, which whizzed past the servants' ears.
These darts were specially crafted defensive weapons made for her by Lu Ye, perfect for testing out.
The servants were nearly scared to death and ran away, their legs trembling.
Neither the Zhou nor the Dong families could persuade Bai Sheng to personally visit and treat their young ladies' faces.
Zhou Yanran and Dong Xue Rou were both furious.
Now, the entire capital was discussing how the Fifth Princess had become even more beautiful than before, while the two from the Zhou and Dong families had become ugly maidens who couldn't get married.
Zhou Qingyun, the second elder brother of Zhou Yanran, regretted it immensely after seeing Xin Yao's face healed. He had originally had a chance to become the驸马 (emperor's son-in-law)! Why couldn't he have waited a little longer?
As long as he became the 驸马, he wouldn't have to study hard or take imperial examinations; he could enjoy glory and wealth.
To win back the Fifth Princess's heart, he tried his best. However, when his father, Minister Zhou, found out, he strictly forbade him from bothering the Fifth Princess again. Instead, he told him to get acquainted with the niece of the Grand Princess's husband's family.
He had secretly seen that niece. Her appearance was ordinary, her figure was ordinary, and she was not his type at all. Moreover, her family held no significant power.
Alas, his father had changed. Previously, he couldn't wait for him to fawn over the Fifth Princess every day, but now his attitude had completely shifted.
Originally, he wanted to ask his mother to intercede for him, but his mother also disagreed with him seeking out the Fifth Princess again.
His mother's attention was now entirely focused on his younger sister, hoping to quickly heal her face and arrange a marriage with the Wu General's family, the sooner the better, and definitely before the Dong family.
The Dong family's daughters awaiting marriage were currently the legitimate eldest granddaughter Dong Manting and her sister Dong Xue Rou.
Since Dong Manting was definitely the Crown Princess, that left Dong Xue Rou.
Therefore, whoever among his younger sister and Dong Xue Rou had their faces healed first would get a head start in the marriage alliance with the Wu family. After all, without beauty, even if a marriage alliance could be formed, it would be considered a climb, and she would be at a disadvantage in all aspects.
The matriarch of the Dong family was worried about this matter.
A wet nurse beside her said, "Mistress, I have a method."
"What method?" Madam Dong's face lit up.
The wet nurse whispered a few words into Madam Dong's ear. After pondering for a moment, Madam Dong nodded, "Yes, proceed as you suggested."
One day, Su Jinfeng was preparing to go to the fabric store to buy some linen. Lu Tu asked her to help make an outer garment.
As she walked into an alley, a beggar suddenly rushed out and thrust a small blood-stained cloth bag into her hand before bolting away.
Su Jinfeng was startled, and in the blink of an eye, the beggar disappeared.
Her hands trembling, she opened the small cloth bag and saw a bloody ear inside, along with a note.
The ear seemed to belong to a child, with a mole in the auricle.
This... this was Xiao Kang's left ear!
Su Jinfeng, terrified, fell to the ground.
After trembling violently for a while, she opened the note. It read, "If you want your younger son to live, bring one of your employer's children over for an exchange. The time is tomorrow noon, at the Tu Niangniang Temple."
Su Jinfeng was stunned.
She had indeed severed ties with her two sons and hated them to the bone, but she didn't want them to die. However, Bai Dong Jia had shown her immense kindness; she absolutely could not betray her, absolutely not!
Su Jinfeng got up from the ground and stumbled towards her ex-husband Lü Dapeng's house.
Xiao Kang had indeed been abducted! And Lü Dapeng had also received a threatening note. Kuai Shu Ge.
Upon seeing Su Jinfeng, Lü Dapeng rushed over and slapped her several times, calling her a jinx. He said that the villains were clearly targeting Bai Dong Jia, and if Su Jinfeng hadn't associated with that family, Xiao Kang wouldn't have been implicated!
Lu Dakang also threatened her with a ferocious expression, demanding that she immediately go to the Lu family and bring a child to exchange for her younger brother, otherwise, he wouldn't be polite to her.
And Lü Dapeng's vixen wife, Pan Shi, pointed at Su Jinfeng's nose and cursed her fiercely, saying that if Su Jinfeng didn't bring Xiao Kang back, she would cause trouble at Hong Fen Jia Ren every day, making it impossible for Su Jinfeng to stay there.
Su Jinfeng came out of Lü Dapeng's house and walked dazedly down the street. She gritted her teeth, clenched her fists, and forced herself to calm down, telling herself again and again not to lose her composure.