After Wu Lin and Zi Su left, Wang Xiuxiu was depressed for several days.

Although she didn't say it, Lu Jingze knew she was upset.

She was already recovering from her illness, and now she had more worries on her mind. She spent her days sitting by the window, staring blankly at the crabapple blossoms in the yard, and even took less medicine.

Lu Jingze saw this and pondered how to make her happy.

One day, he suddenly remembered that the little girl Nanwei was still in the south, so he immediately wrote a letter and ordered someone to send it to her by fast horse, urging her to return to the capital as soon as possible.

When Nanwei received the letter, she was running barefoot on the beach, directing the fishermen to dry seaweed.

Her eyes lit up when she saw that it was a letter from the Prince Jing's residence. "Oh! It must be that my sister misses me!"

Ye Lanfeng, who was sitting to the side drinking tea, raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "What, are you going back?"

"Of course!" Nan Wei grinned and rolled up the letter, stuffing it into her sleeve. "My sister is in a bad mood, so I have to go back and keep her company. I can't be like you, idling around all day!"

"Can't you even speak properly, you little brat? I, the young master, oversee all matters of the jewelry store, how am I being accused of idleness!"

Nan Wei ignored him, made a face at him, put on her shoes, and ran away.

Ye Lanfeng shook his head helplessly: "That brat is quick on her feet."

When Ye Lanfeng returned to the house, Nan Wei had already packed all her luggage.

"So quickly? We've been each other's only family for so long, are you really willing to leave me alone in the South?"

Nan Wei blinked: "I'm willing to part with it! Anyway, we've already dried enough seaweed and sent it back to the clan, so I have nothing to do here."

She paused, then suddenly leaned closer to Ye Lanfeng and whispered, "Besides, I dare not go back to Nanxiang Mountain. If I go back, the elders will definitely detain me and make me a saintess. That would be so boring!"

Ye Lanfeng chuckled: "You're quite clever."

Nan Wei proudly raised her chin: "That's right!"

Seeing her getting carried away, Ye Lanfeng put away his fan and tapped her little head. "I'll go back with you."

"Huh? Why?"

"You brat, you still don't want to go! If it weren't for your good brother-in-law asking me to escort you all the way, do you think I would want to meddle in your ungrateful little brat's business!"

Nan Wei bared her teeth, making a move as if to bite him.

Ye Lanfeng reacted quickly, using his fan to shield her head and escape unharmed.

The two set off from the south early the next morning.

They traveled by land first, then by water, and arrived in the capital in just a few days.

---

As soon as Nan Wei entered the Prince Jing's residence, she lifted her skirt and ran straight to Wang Xiuxiu's courtyard.

The person hadn't even arrived yet, but their voice had already reached them.

"Sister! I'm back!"

Wang Xiuxiu was leaning against the couch flipping through a book when she heard the sound and was startled. Before she could react, a pale yellow figure rushed in and threw herself into her arms.

"Ouch!" Wang Xiuxiu was jolted back by the bump and couldn't help but laugh, "You silly girl, why are you still so reckless?"

Nanwei looked up, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling, and began to chatter: "Sister, you don't know how fun the South is! The people by the sea all speak with a soft, watery voice. I even learned how to eat sashimi, dipped in soy sauce, it's so fresh!"

Wang Xiuxiu was amused by her: "You certainly know how to enjoy yourself."

Nanwei sat down next to her with a grin, counting on her fingers: "I also brought back a lot of seafood, including dried kelp, seaweed, dried shrimp, and salted fish! Oh, right, I also brought several pearl necklaces. Here's one for you. I haven't given Sister Zisu a gift for her wedding yet, so I'll give one to Sister Zisu. Sister, could you help me find someone to deliver it? I heard there's also a Princess Consort in the Prince's Mansion, so I'll give one to her too!"

As she spoke, she pulled a delicate little box from her sleeve and handed it to Wang Xiuxiu as if presenting a treasure.

When Wang Xiuxiu opened it, she found a string of lustrous pearls, each one round and full, gleaming softly in the sunlight.

A warmth filled her heart, and she reached out to pat Nan Wei's head: "Thank you, Weiwei."

Nan Wei shook her head smugly: "You're welcome!"

She chattered on and on, talking about everything from the local customs and traditions of the south to how she directed the fishermen to dry seaweed, and then about Ye Lanfeng's embarrassing incident of getting his clothes soaked by the waves while fishing on a boat.

Wang Xiuxiu was still feeling sad, but after this commotion, she couldn't care less about being sad anymore.

Lu Jingze stood outside the door, listening to the laughter coming from inside, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Indeed, it was the right decision to call the little sparrow back.