Sky Curtain: With a vermilion mirror, Jing travels through the modern world, shaking all dynasties.

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The grassland stretched out in an endless expanse, where several so-called "strange beasts," taller than the trees, strolled leisurely.

They have slender bodies, pillar-like limbs, and are covered with dense, golden-brown short fur.

What's most captivating is that neck, taller than that of an adult man, arches diagonally upwards from the shoulder, like a silent and majestic tower.

"Its body resembles a deer, its tail a bull, it has one horn, and its body is covered in spots..." Zhu Jingjing murmured as if chanting a spell, then suddenly grabbed Jiang Chuan's arm, "Brother, isn't that the legendary Qilin!"

Jiang Chuan was taken aback. Had this girl never seen a giraffe before?

Upon closer reflection, that's indeed the case.

Historical records indicate that the first giraffe was presented to Zhu Di by the Bengal Kingdom delegation during the Yongle era, so the little princess in front of her had naturally never seen one before.

At that time, the people of the Ming Dynasty truly regarded it as an auspicious unicorn, and Zhu Di even ordered painters to create the "Auspicious Qilin Picture" to record it.

"Jingjing, that's not a Qilin." Jiang Chuan rolled down the car window and took out a branch that the park uses specifically for feeding giraffes. "It's called a giraffe. It's a herbivore that lives overseas. It's gentle and you can feed it!"

Upon hearing this, the shock in Zhu Jingjing's eyes was instantly replaced by excitement. If she could personally feed this magical beast that resembled a Qilin, the trip would not have been in vain!

"Brother, but it's so tall!" Zhu Jingjing, holding the branch, looked at the giraffe that had already reached her and was now in front of her, perplexed. "Even if Jingjing jumps up, she can't reach its mouth. How am I supposed to feed it?"

Jiang Chuan grabbed her hand as she reached for the car door, stopping her from opening it and getting out: "Jingjing, they're very smart! As long as you stick the food out the window, they'll come and eat it themselves."

"Really?"

Zhu Jingjing couldn't wait to stick the branch out of the car window, trying to hold it higher and even shaking it a few times to try and attract the giraffe's attention.

A relatively short giraffe seemed to notice, its dark eyes darting around, and its four long legs moved slowly and steadily as it walked straight toward the car.

"Brother, look! It's really coming!" Zhu Jingjing's heart pounded, filled with a mixture of tension and excitement as she waited for the beast to approach. "It's so tall, what if it can't see us and just steps over the car?"

"Jingjing, your imagination is too vivid!" Jiang Chuan smiled and gently patted her stiff back. "It may be tall, but it's not blind. How could it not see you!"

The Great Tang Dynasty, Taiji Palace.

The little rhinoceros stood on tiptoe, head held high, arms outstretched, as if standing before a strange beast, its fingers lightly pinching a green stem, waiting for it to bow down and eat.

"Sizi, be careful." Li Shimin smiled kindly and quickly bent down to support her slender waist. "Don't fall."

Upon hearing this, the little Si Zi withdrew her hand, her cherry lips pouting slightly: "Father, Si Zi also really wants to feed that strange beast herself..."

Upon seeing this, Li Shimin felt a surge of affection.

"My darling, although your father cannot summon that strange beast," he said, gently stroking the little darling's head with affection, "yet your father has several beloved steeds in his stable. Next time, I will take you to see them, and you can feed them yourself, how about that?"

modern.

As they were talking, the giraffe leisurely strolled up to the car.

It lowered its neck, or rather, slowly bent its long neck down, and its small, triangular head seemed to descend from the sky, hovering leisurely in front of Zhu Jingjing, meeting her gaze.

Zhu Jingjing held her breath instantly. Apart from the little cat she kept in the palace, this was the first time she had ever been so close to an animal!

She stared intently at the small, triangular head that seemed disproportionate to its enormous body, and her reflection was mirrored in those dark eyes.

"Jingjing, don't be afraid." Jiang Chuan gently took her other hand, the warmth of his palm silently conveying courage. "Don't be fooled by its size, it's actually very docile. As long as you don't scare it, it won't be aggressive."

Zhu Jingjing nodded slightly, mustered her courage, and extended the branch in her hand out of the car window a little further.

The giraffe seemed to like the little princess very much too.

Instead of snatching the branch away, it let her hold it, carefully using its long tongue to pluck the tender leaves from it, and then put them in its mouth to chew them slowly.

"Jingjing, it seems to really like you!" Jiang Chuan was also a little surprised, not expecting the little princess to be so popular with animals.

Zhu Jingjing stared at the magical beast so close at hand, and the urge to touch it quietly brewed in her heart, which soon overflowed.

"Brother, can I touch it?" Zhu Jingjing asked.

Jiang Chuan frowned slightly. Giraffes are different from ordinary deer. With a weight of over a ton, even if a lion were to kick one of them, it would be difficult to avoid death or serious injury.

"No way!" He said sternly, his face hardening. "Don't let its docile appearance fool you. If it gets frightened, its destructive power is no less than that of those carnivorous beasts! It's best to be careful." Jiang Chuan said.

Zhu Jingjing pouted and nodded reluctantly.

Seemingly sensing the little princess's disappointment, the giraffe used its tongue to roll away the twig, slowly chewing it, and its small head moved even closer.

Jiang Chuan was taken aback. Although the giraffe could not speak, its affectionate gaze and its eager approach were exactly like a kitten begging to be petted!

"Brother, it seems like it wants me to touch it too!" Zhu Jingjing became excited again, and said in an almost pleading tone, "Brother, just one touch, please..."

Jiang Chuan sighed softly and nodded. "Alright, you can only touch it once. If it makes any unusual movements, you must immediately pull your hand back, understand?"

Zhu Jingjing nodded repeatedly, her slightly trembling fingertips slowly reaching out.

The Great Ming Dynasty, Fengtian Hall.

Empress Ma looked up at the sky, her eyes almost drawn to the little princess's trembling fingertips.

"Chongba, are you really alright?" Her heart skipped a beat, and worry was hard to hide in her eyes. "If that beast suddenly attacks, Jing'er..."

"No need to worry! Jing'er truly lives up to her reputation as my own flesh and blood. Facing that colossal beast, she remained completely composed!" Zhu Yuanzhang was filled with pride, greatly praising Zhu Jingjing's courageous actions. "She truly is a woman who is no less capable than a man. I am very pleased!"

"Chongba, look!" Empress Ma suddenly opened her eyes wide in surprise, "That strange beast not only didn't avoid you, but it even gently nuzzled Jing'er's hand. This..."

Upon seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed: "Jing'er, who inherits my bloodline, will surely be able to make even the most wondrous beasts bow down!"

Empress Ma smiled and said, "Chongba, that 'zoo' of later generations is quite impressive. If I have the opportunity, I would like to go and try it myself, just like Jing'er."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and replied with a smile, "If such an opportunity truly arises, I am willing to accompany my wife."

modern.

After the tour, Jiang Chuan drove Zhu Jingjing away from the zoo.

"Brother, your zoo is amazing!" She looked down at her palm, where the soft touch of the giraffe still seemed to linger. "Where should we go next?"