Guard Yao glanced over and then said.
"That is the kitchen!"
"No wonder the aroma is so intense!"
Zhang Jian asked again.
"Can I go in and take a look?"
The guard nodded without hesitation: "The Princess said, since the Champion Scholar is the nephew of the Prince Consort, he is like half an owner of the Princess's Mansion, so naturally, he can!"
Zhang Jian smiled and immediately stepped toward the small kitchen.
From afar, he heard cries for help.
And it wasn't just one cry for help, Zhang Jian frowned, stepped into the kitchen, and saw a litltle cook's heat steaming inside; many cooks were already busy.
This time, the Eldest Princess's Mansion hosted the wedding banquet and invited several famous chefs from capital city restaurants.
The kitchen was bustling.
Most of the dishes were already prepared!
Zhang Jian followed the voice and looked over, seeing many large iron cages in an open courtyard on one side of the kitchen.
Inside the iron cages were many beasts.
Wild boars, badgers, foxes, leopards, and several sharp-eyed white tigers, these beasts had become meat on the platter this time.
Zhang Jian's gaze passed over them, and his divine thought landed inside several small wooden cages, he saw a few trapped wild foxes.
These wild foxes were the most spiritual. Among more than a dozen foxes, those crying out for help were a red-tailed fire fox and two small white foxes, their eyes lively.
Seeing these foxes, Zhang Jian asked the nearby Guard Yao.
"Where did these foxes come from? Are they planning to cook fox meat at the wedding banquet?"
Guard Yao laughed upon hearing this.
"Oh, these were sent over by General Hua, who was patrolling South Mountain. He found someone selling wild game in the morning, bought them entirely, and sent them to Her Highness the Princess. It's just that with the spring chill, these fox pelts are of excellent quality, and their skins could be used for warmth, but no one is planning to eat their meat!"
Upon hearing this, a few tender voices came from within the wooden cages.
"Don't peel our skin, our fur is not pretty!"
"Help!"
The two tender voices came out, and in Zhang Jian's gaze, those two white foxes' spirits were indeed two little girls aged around six or seven.
While on the other side, the red fox had harmonious magical power, merely drowsy, in Zhang Jian's gaze, it was a great demon.
At this moment, the red fox barely opened its eyes, looking at Zhang Jian with a mournful gaze.
Zhang Jian looked at these foxes with his spiritual eye and said: "Guard Yao, I see these foxes are quite pitiful, my aunt and uncle are newlyweds, and honestly, it's not suitable to kill such spiritual creatures. Could you report to my aunt for me, and say that I wish to save these foxes? If my aunt likes pelts, I, Zhang Jian, will seek better pelts to offer to my aunt and uncle in the future!"
"...This!"
Guard Yao looked at Zhang Jian in surprise, but quickly nodded, agreeing to go and report.
Zhang Jian glanced at the other wild beasts. Most were groggy, but the largest tiger had a hint of spiritual wisdom, yet there was a thick scent of soul and the smell of human corpses around it, which made Zhang Jian feel a little queasy.
Zhang Jian then saw the two white foxes lying in the cage, shivering, and he recited a Soul Calming Scripture with a smile, his magical power turning into a calming heavenly sound that floated in the small courtyard, causing the beasts to unconsciously relax.
The red fox also opened its eyes, giving Zhang Jian a surprised look.
Seeing this, Zhang Jian stepped forward and casually pinched the red fox's ear, giving it a light rub, which immediately angered the red fox, causing it to bite.
"You still dare to bite me!"
Zhang Jian chuckled softly, his hand deftly avoiding the red fox's mouth.
His hands then playfully pinched the fox's soft mouth, but it was only because of his agility that he wasn't bitten.
A moment later, Guard Yao hurried back, now wearing a smile.
"Scholar Zhang, you're right, Her Highness the Princess also believes it's very inauspicious to slaughter these creatures on such a grand wedding day, and she entrusts you with the disposal of all the living creatures!"
He was now followed by a team of guards.
Zhang Jian stood up and said: "Guard Yao, then I'll trouble you to send them back to South Mountain!"
South Mountain is part of the Royal Hunting Ground allocated by the Daqian Court, stretching deep into the Yanling Mountain Range, filled with fierce beasts.
Zhang Jian paused slightly, then continued: "Should there be any obstruction on the way, just say it's by the order of my aunt, Princess Qingfeng, to release living creatures on her wedding day to seek auspiciousness!"
Seeing Zhang Jian's solemn expression, Yao Zhenwu was surprised but also curious.
From Zhang Jian's words, he seemed to anticipate that someone might hinder them along the way, and there could be complications.
Yao Zhenwu cupped his hands, indicating he would remember it.
However, he didn't really take it seriously.
The Princess Qingfeng's Mansion is no ordinary princess mansion; few in the capital city would dare to stop people from the Princess Qingfeng's Mansion.
He immediately ordered the lifting of over a dozen wooden and iron cages to head out of the capital city.
The group had a token from the Princess's Mansion, making their passage smooth!
Just as they were about to exit the city, they encountered a Divine Strategy Army troop coming directly at them, led by a young commander in black armor, his appearance robust, with a broad back and strong arms, his eyes instantly noticing Yao Zhenwu and the group of guards.
He casually stopped Yao Zhenwu and said in a hearty voice.
"Is brother carrying these foxes to sell them?"
Yao Zhenwu, stopped without reason, felt unhappy and replied in a deep voice.
"Who are you people?"
Hearing this, before the young commander could speak, a young Deputy General behind him said in a deep voice.
"You're quite unaware. This is An Ruming, General An, of our Divine Strategy Army!"
At this moment, An Ruming's expression was calm, merely gesturing subtly to prevent the Deputy General from saying more.
"Don't misunderstand, brother. It's just that the early spring is still quite cold, and my mother fears the cold greatly. I see these fox pelts are excellent, especially that fire fox and those two white foxes, their pelts would be exceptional, and I'm willing to pay a high price for them, hoping brother can accommodate!"
"An Ruming…"
At this point, Yao Zhenwu's group also showed some changes in expression.
An Ruming is known; he's a young commander on the rise in the capital city, alongside the likes of young military generals such as Songyu, Zhao Qingshan, and Zhao Man, recently favored by the sovereign.
If it were an ordinary military officer, Yao Zhenwu wouldn't pay any heed, but An Ruming is no typical noble officer.
Yao Zhenwu's heart wavered; he hadn't expected Scholar Zhang to predict this so accurately.
After a shift in expression, he decided to heed Zhang Jian's instructions, clasping his fists.
"Please forgive me, General An. These wild foxes are intended for release as instructed by Her Highness the Eldest Princess and the Prince Consort. Today being the Eldest Princess's wedding day, releasing these creatures seeks auspiciousness. Pray, do not make things difficult for me!"
Upon hearing this, regret flickered in An Ruming's eyes, but he knew he couldn't insist.
"Very well then!"
He didn't insist and turned away.
Yao Zhenwu then hastily led the foxes away.