The prince is fierce: Who dares to steal my woman?

Just then, an idea flashed across the night sky like a shooting star, illuminating his thoughts.

Perhaps I can start by looking at the length of their calves.

Xiao Jinyan secretly pondered to himself. He knew that Yang Rong and Lü Zhu were slightly different in height, with Yang Rong being about three centimeters taller than Lü Zhu. Therefore, the length of their calves might be the key to his identification.

And so, a scene that was both hilarious and absurd unfolded.

Xiao Jinyan practically humbled himself, scrutinizing the two brides' calves with an almost crawling posture. In the candlelight, his gaze was focused and unwavering, as if he were waging a silent contest.

However, this seemingly simple task was actually fraught with difficulties. The two brides had smooth calves and were of similar length, and the shadows cast by their veils made it extremely difficult to distinguish them.

Xiao Jinyan held his breath, afraid that the slightest sound would break this delicate balance. His gaze darted back and forth between his two calves, trying to catch the minute difference.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment, and the air was filled with a tense yet slightly comical atmosphere.

Guan Lingxuan smiled playfully, her gaze shifting with a hint of amusement as she looked at Xiao Jinyan, who was lying on the ground with a furrowed brow.

"My husband, your posture is so lewd, you're practically touching the damp flagstones."

Yu Xin'er, standing to the side, held a delicate round fan and gently swayed it. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and amusement as she chimed in, "Yes, my husband is so focused. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would hardly have imagined that a grown man would do such a thing just to distinguish between Yang Rong and Lü Zhu."

Seeing this, Guan Lingxuan's smile widened, as if she had found a new source of amusement. She blinked and suggested, "Why don't you, my husband, take a bold step and just lie under her skirt to see for yourself? Wouldn't that make everything clear at a glance?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan shook his head with a wry smile, slowly stood up, patted the dust off his body, and said helplessly, "To be honest, I did try my best, but these two people are too similar in build, especially the length of their calves. It is really hard to tell them apart with the naked eye."

Yu Xin'er covered her mouth and chuckled, her voice as clear as a silver bell: "Husband, your method is truly laughable. Yang Rong and Lü Zhu are only three centimeters apart in height, and both of them have graceful figures and long calves. How could such a subtle difference be easily discerned by the naked eye?"

Seeing this, Guan Lingxuan laughed even harder. She clapped her hands and said, "My husband, your actions today are truly eye-opening. I never thought that you, who are usually so wise and brave, would be so clumsy. But it's understandable. After all, you are facing two beautiful women. Anyone would probably lose their composure."

Xiao Jinyan frowned, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two brides, muttering to himself, "I really don't know how to distinguish these subtle differences."

Beside her, Guan Lingxuan chuckled softly, her voice as clear and melodious as a silver bell. In a slightly mischievous tone, she said, "Husband, you can't tell the difference, can you? How about you just admit defeat?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's lips curled into a defiant smile: "I won't admit defeat! There's still time, isn't there? The incense hasn't burned out yet, the outcome is still undecided!"

At this moment, Yu Xin'er walked gracefully over with light, lotus-like steps. Her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, carrying a hint of comfort: "Husband, if you really have no other choice, why don't you just guess? After all, there's a 50% chance. If you guess right, you'll still win. It's better than just anxiously waiting here."

However, Xiao Jinyan had other plans in mind. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and focused his mind, as images flashed through his mind.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up, as if he had caught some crucial information. He thought to himself: Yang Rong, that princess of a fallen kingdom, harbors a deep longing for her homeland. This sentiment is fundamentally different from Green Pearl's pure loyalty. Perhaps, I can find clues to distinguish them by examining their thoughts.

Then, Xiao Jinyan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze becoming unusually firm. He looked at the two ladies and a confident smile appeared on his lips: "Ladies, I have thought of a way."

His voice was filled with unprecedented determination and confidence, as if victory was already assured.

Guan Lingxuan's eyes sparkled with curiosity and anticipation as she softly asked, "Husband, have you come up with a brilliant idea?"

Xiao Jinyan smiled gently, a hint of confidence in his smile. He slowly said, "My method is guaranteed to solve the problem, but... the emotions it contains are too complex, carrying a trace of sorrow, which may be somewhat out of place with the joy and laughter filling this room today."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xin'er raised her eyebrows slightly, her gentle demeanor revealing an undeniable firmness: "What's inappropriate about it? Husband, feel free to display your talents. Whether it's joy or sorrow, it's all part of our life, and it's something we should face together."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's gaze swept across the faces of the two ladies, finally settling on a gentle smile. He took a deep breath and said, "Then, ladies, I shall humbly accept your invitation and make a fool of myself."

A sly glint flashed in Guan Lingxuan's eyes, and a smile curved her lips: "Husband, I want to see what kind of skills you have hidden, and whether you can add an unusual touch to this celebration."

So, Xiao Jinyan strolled gently, as if stepping into a world that belonged only to him. He began to recite: "When will the spring flowers and autumn moon end? How much of the past do I know? Last night, the east wind blew again in my small building. I cannot bear to look back at my homeland in the bright moonlight. The carved railings and jade steps should still be there, but the rosy cheeks have changed. How much sorrow can you have? It is just like a river of spring water flowing eastward."

As the poem ended, the entire space seemed to freeze for a moment. Guan Lingxuan and Yu Xin'er exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with both shock and deep admiration for Xiao Jinyan. This was not merely a poem, but a touch of the soul, a resonance of emotions, subtly infusing the festive atmosphere with an indescribable profound meaning.

Yu Xin'er's heart was stirred as if by a gentle spring breeze, rippling with delicate waves. Gazing at her elegant husband, she couldn't help but admire him inwardly: "My husband is truly amazing! With just a few words, he utters such exquisite poetry, like a flower nourished by morning dew, fresh and refined, with a lingering charm. The imagery is both hazy and profound; the word choice is exquisite, every word perfectly chosen, captivating the reader, leaving them utterly mesmerized."

Although Guan Lingxuan didn't fully grasp the profound meaning of the poems, her sensitive and delicate heart could feel the sincere emotions flowing between the lines. She thought to herself: Although I don't quite understand those complex images and allusions, my husband's poems are truly wonderful! The rhythmic cadence is like a clear mountain spring, flowing gently and touching the depths of my soul.

Standing to the side, Xiao Jinyan's eyes were deep, but his mind was like a chessboard, carefully planning each move. He knew that today's wedding was not only the time when the two brides and their husbands were united, but also an excellent opportunity for him to test people's hearts and understand their emotions.

Yang Rong, a princess who once ruled a fallen kingdom, must have harbored endless sorrow and the vicissitudes of the past in her heart. When the lines of Li Yu's poem "Yu Meiren" resound, the poignant lines "How much sorrow can one have? It's like a river of spring water flowing eastward" must have stirred up waves of emotion within her.

Therefore, Xiao Jinyan's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, was fixed on the two brides. He observed that the bride on the left shifted her leg slightly the instant she heard the words, as if touched by some emotion; the subtle movement revealed a barely perceptible tremor.

The bride on the right simply remained silent and indifferent.

Xiao Jinyan smiled confidently and said, "I already know the answer."

Guan Lingxuan parted her lips slightly, her voice carrying a hint of slyness and anticipation: "Husband, have you guessed who Yang Rong is and who Lü Zhu is?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Xin'er frowned slightly, her gentle demeanor revealing a hint of disbelief: "Could it be... that you already know the answer, great poet? How could this be so soon?"

Xiao Jinyan smiled gently, a smile that contained both confidence and a touch of indifference. He slowly extended his finger and pointed to the bride on the left: "The one on the left is Yang Rong."

Then, his gaze gently shifted to the right, "The one on the right is Green Pearl."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xin'er's eyes widened, filled with curiosity and confusion: "Husband, how did you guess that? What's the secret behind it?"

Xiao Jinyan's gaze was deep, as if he could see into people's hearts: "That's simple. As a princess of a fallen kingdom, Yang Rong's hatred for her family and country is as deep as a brand. When she heard the desolation and tragedy contained in my poem, it would surely stir up ripples in the depths of her heart. That subtle emotional fluctuation is something that others cannot hide. As for Lü Zhu, she is almost illiterate and has a limited understanding of poetry and songs, so it is naturally unlikely that she would have much resonance or reaction to that poem."

Guan Lingxuan listened intently, her eyes sparkling with admiration. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Husband, you are truly amazing! You were able to guess that! You are truly talented and insightful, and I admire you wholeheartedly."

On that night, with the lights dim and the moonlight like silk, Xiao Jinyan stood in the center of the antique-style courtyard, his eyes filled with a hint of amusement and confidence. He smiled softly at the two stunning beauties before him and said, "Well, ladies, you've accepted your bet, haven't you?" His voice was gentle and refined, yet it held an undeniable firmness.

Yu Xin'er, dressed in a magnificent brocade gown, had a sly glint in her eyes. A smug smile played on her lips as she gently waved the round fan in her hand and said slowly, "It's a pity that despite all my scheming, my husband still couldn't guess correctly." Her tone carried a hint of regret, yet was full of teasing, as if she had already won a carefully orchestrated game of wits.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan frowned slightly, his gaze shifting between the two brides, seemingly trying to catch a subtle clue. "Could it be... that the person who unconsciously moved when they heard my words was actually Green Pearl, not Yang Rong? How is that possible?" His tone was filled with disbelief, as if he had witnessed an impossible miracle.

Beside her, Guan Lingxuan covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her voice clear and melodious, like the song of an oriole in spring. She laughed and said, "Haha, husband, guess again." Her eyes sparkled with cunning and anticipation, as if she was enjoying the pleasure of this intellectual contest.

Xiao Jinyan shook his head, his brows furrowed, his heart filled with confusion: "It shouldn't be like this. Green Pearl is almost illiterate. How could she understand my poem, which is full of profound meaning and difficult to understand? And how could it cause a physical reaction?" His doubts, like the fog in the night, grew thicker and thicker.

Seeing this, Yu Xin'er's laughter grew even clearer, echoing in the night sky like silver bells. She finally couldn't help but reveal the answer: "Haha, my husband lost. As for the reason..." She deliberately left it at that, her eyes gleaming with cunning and smugness, as if she held the key to unlock the secret treasure box.

“My lord, see for yourself.” With that, Yu Xin’er gently waved her fan, gesturing for the two brides to come forward. As they slowly removed the red veils covering their faces, an unexpected scene unfolded before Xiao Jin’yan’s eyes—Green Pearl’s eyes sparkled with an unprecedented liveliness, while Yang Rong remained indifferent, as if all of this had nothing to do with her.

It turned out that Yu Xin'er had known all along that although Lü Zhu was illiterate, she possessed an extraordinary sensitivity to music. She secretly arranged for a musician to subtly interpret the meaning of the lyrics with music as Xiao Jin Yan recited them. Although Lü Zhu didn't understand the words, she was deeply moved by the melodious tune and involuntarily began to move. This meticulously designed gamble not only tested intelligence but also contained a profound insight into human nature and emotions.