Chapter 513: Chapter 512: A Letter from the Capital City, Returning to Duke of Zhen’s Residence_1
The Northern Territory Mountain Range was filled with high and steep peaks, with countless rare medicinal plants growing in the snowy chasms.

Mo Canglan could not sit still in the military camp, so he picked medicinal herbs in the depths of the mountains, collecting a bountiful harvest.

Lin Qingluo would often go with the Little Prince and Little Kingfisher, who guided them to find hundred-year-old ginseng and thousand-year-old Lingzhi mushrooms all over the mountains.

Little Kingfisher had a unique affinity for recognizing precious treasures and had a soft spot for mineral veins.

After playing freely in the Northern Territory Mountain Range for half a month, it brought back a huge piece of good news for its master.

The divine beast had discovered a rich coal mine in the depths of the mountains.

Transporting coal to the remote borderlands was difficult.

Most people in Beidi relied on firewood to keep warm during the winter, with very few able to afford coal, let alone premium smokeless silver-charcoal.

With the discovery of coal, the quality of life for the soldiers and civilians would be greatly improved, at least no longer having to fear bone-chilling cold and comfortably spending the winter.

Lin Qingluo marked the location of the coal mine on the map and reported it to the commander of the Lin Clan Army.

The current commander was a son of the Old Master, the younger brother of Duke of Zhen, and also the Fourth Grandfather of the Lin siblings.

Fourth Master Lin took this matter very seriously and immediately decided to gather the soldiers and civilians to build roads and open up the coal mine.

The Lin Clan’s soldiers joined the ranks to help the soldiers and civilians build roads and dig tunnels.

Wang Meng, Shitou, and Feng Yi also rolled up their sleeves to help, preparing for a big job.

The mine exploration was in full swing, with the morale of the soldiers and civilians soaring and the progress advancing rapidly.

Lin Qingluo was overjoyed and hoped to contribute more to the soldiers and civilians of Beidi to improve their living conditions.

The goal was to make life as comfortable as possible for their close family members in harsh conditions.

Ideals are beautiful, but reality is cruel.

After spending an unrestrained month at Phoenix Pass, the news that a pigeon messenger brought from the capital shattered Lin Qingluo’s beautiful illusion, dragging her back into reality.

The Old Master was sick and missed his granddaughter.

Duke Zhen sent a pigeon message ordering his reckless sons, who had dared to take their sister to the border to face danger, to return with Lin Jinyun and Lin Jinlong as quickly as possible and without delay.

Of course, the precious granddaughter also had to return.

Duke Zhen specially wrote on a separate sheet of paper, earnestly reminding her.

On the long journey, Little Qingluo didn’t need to hurry and shouldn’t live rough, lest she became exhausted and frail.

Lin Jinyun and Lin Jinlong looked at the two notes with completely different contents and couldn’t help but feel a chill down their spines as they gazed at them, despairing at the heavens.

As sons of the Lin Clan, their grievances and bitterness went unnoticed.

They had bitter hearts but no one to share their sorrows with.

*

The Old Master was eighty-six and his illness was a serious concern because of his age.

Lin Qingluo didn’t dare to be careless, immediately returning upon receiving the message, riding tirelessly and sleeping in the open, arriving back in the capital within ten days.

She returned to the Duke of Zhen’s residence after a year’s absence.

A crowd of younger siblings lined up at the entrance to greet her.

Little Twelve and Little Thirteen each held one of their sister’s arms, happily bouncing around.

Lin Qingluo was escorted to the Drunken Frost Residence by her younger siblings.

“Qingluo, my precious granddaughter, you’re finally back.”

The Duchess of Zhen’s eyes were filled with tears, hugging her soft and tender granddaughter without letting go.

“Grandfather, Grandmother, Qingluo is unfilial. I can’t stay by your side and ease your worries.”

Lin Qingluo leaned into her grandmother’s embrace, her eyes reddening involuntarily.

“Qingluo, my precious.”

The Duchess of Zhen was too tender-hearted to scold her granddaughter in the slightest.

However, the treatment for the two troublesome boys was completely different.