A goddess dwells in my heart.

Chapter 28 Childhood Sweethearts Recognize Each Other

As soon as Lu Zheji finished speaking, the gazes of everyone in the room instantly changed, and the guests who had been watching the spectacle were now burning with even more intense gossip.

Could it be that Miss Lin has a role in this love triangle?

Liu Changtian, standing in the crowd, looked dejected, revealing an expression of "I knew it." He recalled the old stories about Lu Zheji from the academy, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Lu Zheji looked around and said loudly, "Gentlemen, you may not know this, but this man surnamed Yang just said he admires Miss Su. Yet, in broad daylight, he was spouting nonsense in front of others, repeatedly saying he admires my second young lady. However, my second young lady is of noble character and simply disdains such a lecherous rogue."

"At the banquet just now, I was chatting with some friends from Chang'an, and we happened to talk about this man. That's when I learned that this scoundrel is a notorious womanizer in Chang'an, having ruined countless girls by virtue of his family background. I originally wanted to find him and get to the bottom of this, but I didn't expect that this fellow would be so impatient, already looking for new prey here!"

"You scoundrel surnamed Yang!" Lu Zheji shouted fiercely, his face full of righteous indignation. "You lecherous thief, how dare you set your sights on my second young lady! You have absolutely no respect for the Lin family! If I don't beat you to a pulp today, I'm not worthy of the Lin family name!"

His shout was so powerful and resounding that it was heard throughout the hall. The gazes of the crowd towards Yang Xinyong instantly turned into undisguised contempt. Several women even subconsciously took a half-step back, as if getting any closer to him would soil the hem of their skirts.

Yang Xinyong was both shocked and furious, trembling with rage, yet he was at a loss for words to refute her.

Although his motives were impure, he was only pretending to be a playboy pursuing Lin Zhenge in order to protect her. He never expected that this young master Wang would be so insidious and use this incident to frame him!

Unfortunately, the Lin family hasn't spoken yet. If he were to clarify the matter on his own, and Lin Zhengge were to blame him, he would still be in deep trouble.

Looking at the father, Yang Ting, ever since Lin Chensha's identity as a member of the Lin family branch was confirmed, he had been silent with a gloomy face, clearly plotting how to end today's events.

After all, compared to the Lin family, a top-tier clan with power spanning the north and south, the Divine Sword Sect was the weaker party. Even if they were in the right, if things went wrong and a rift developed between the two families, it would be something his grandfather, who coveted the position of sect leader, would never want to see.

Over the years, Yang Xinyong had taken advantage of his family background to take advantage of respectable women. Only now did he truly understand how suffocating and powerless it was to be oppressed by someone with even greater power.

Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate, Lin Zhengge's clear, cold voice rang out: "Chen Sha, you've misunderstood."

All eyes immediately focused on her.

"I am indeed aware of Young Master Yang's mention of his admiration during the day. As you all have probably heard, some time ago, a demon from the Hehuan Sect made outrageous remarks and attempted to disrupt the banquet. As the son of the garrison commander of Wancheng Town, Young Master Yang took the initiative to propose to my Lin family that he would act as a 'jealous playboy' to drive away those men who tried to approach me, thereby assisting the Lin family's defenses and preventing the demon from the Hehuan Sect from infiltrating."

Lin Zhengge's peach blossom eyes revealed a hint of disdain: "The Hehuan Sect is nothing but a bunch of clowns. My Lin family doesn't take them seriously, so we declined Young Master Yang's offer. We didn't intend to publicize this matter, but I didn't expect Chen Sha to misunderstand."

Yang Xinyong, feeling like he'd been granted a pardon, nodded repeatedly with half his face swollen: "Yes, yes, it's all a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!"

Lin Zhengge's clarification was within Lu Zheji's expectations. After all, the Divine Sword Sect came to help the Lin family. If the Lin family remained silent because of the misunderstanding caused by their guard duties, it would be unfair.

She could only explain Yang Xinyong's reasons for harassing her; the rest, his private moral issues, were none of her business. Yang Xinyong's romantic escapades in Chang'an were real, and since he didn't represent the Divine Sword Sect, his tarnished reputation was solely his personal matter.

This was exactly what Lu Zheji wanted to see. In this way, his sudden attack on others became an act of protecting his family's reputation, and thus justifiable. The relationship between the Lin family and the Divine Sword Sect was not strained as a result, and only the world where Yang Xinyong was injured was completed.

However, that's not enough...

"So it was a misunderstanding." Lu Zheji's face showed a look of sudden realization, but his tone was somewhat sarcastic. "It seems that although Young Master Yang's behavior is a bit chaotic, he is not so audacious as to dare to covet my Second Miss."

Yang Xinyong's eyelids twitched violently, and he snorted coldly, "Does Young Master Lin have any further instructions?"

Lu Zheji laughed and said, "I wouldn't dare to offer advice. Since it was a misunderstanding, I was indeed a bit too heavy-handed just now. I have long admired the Divine Sword Sect, and since I accidentally injured Young Master Yang today, it would be inappropriate not to show my appreciation. How about this..."

He looked at Yang Xinyong, his eyes gleaming:

"Let Young Master Yang retaliate. We are both young, so this is just a small skirmish, a friendly exchange. Regardless of the outcome, let's leave it at that, so as not to damage the harmony between our two families over this misunderstanding. What do you say, Young Master Yang?"

Yang Xinyong was taken aback at first, then his eyes blazed with fury and intense desire.

He was seething with anger, his face was swollen like a pig's head, and he had lost face in front of everyone. He wanted to get revenge himself and beat that arrogant "Lin Chensha" into a pig's head too!

However, since this young master Wang dared to challenge beyond his borders, he must have had the confidence to be arrogant.

Just as he was hesitating, he received a telepathic message from his father: "What are you chickening out for? Get up there! Don't embarrass me!"

He immediately straightened his back and answered loudly:

"Very well, since Young Master Lin is in such a good mood, I, Yang, will gladly oblige!"

Lu Zheji smiled and said, "Then I'll wait until Young Master Yang has recovered from his injuries before I come to learn from your skills."

"No need to choose an auspicious day!"

A deep voice interrupted him. Yang Ting stepped forward and said in a deep voice:

"This is just a minor injury; a simple bandage will suffice. Otherwise, it will be a laughing stock for the guests at tomorrow's banquet."

His words were not without merit. The Divine Sword Sect had close ties with the Southern Wei court, and the Lin family was a key bridge for the integration of the Northern and Southern Wei. The two families should not have any public friction regarding their positions today. Resolving the matter now would minimize the impact of this incident.

Moreover, no one knows a son better than his father. Yang Ting knew how much his son had neglected his martial arts practice due to his indulgence in wine and women over the years.

Yang Xinyong's cultivation level is decent, and he looks impressive, but his swordsmanship has actually regressed compared to a few years ago, making his father embarrassed to admit that he is a swordsman.

He had no idea where his stupid son got the audacity to accept the challenge. Didn't he know his own limitations?

That ugly swordsmanship would be shameful even if we won. If those top sects thought that all the swordsmen of the Divine Sword Sect were like that, then we would be utterly humiliated.

It would be better to fight injured. After all, Yang Xinyong is now a master of the God-Slaying Technique, and physical injuries will not have much impact on his combat power. On the contrary, they can be used as an excuse to cover up his lack of knowledge of swordsmanship.

Even if we really lose, we'll have a way to save face.

Lin Zhengge clearly had no intention of dragging this matter out until the main banquet tomorrow, and immediately made a decision: "Then so be it. Someone, help Young Master Yang down for bandaging. Lin Chensha, come with me for a moment!"

A gentle physician transferred from the academy quickly stepped forward and accompanied Yang Xinyong, whose face was covered in blood, away.

Lu Zheji followed behind Lin Zhengge, and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, they left this place of trouble.

Lin Zhengge walked through several corridors and arrived at a secluded study deep in the villa. She pushed open the door and entered, with Lu Zheji following closely behind.

The moment the door closed behind her, Lin Zhengge ceased to maintain the dignified and gentle demeanor of a well-bred lady in public.

She casually sat down on the armchair behind the desk, crossing one of her long, slender legs. The hem of her lake-blue palace dress slipped down, revealing a section of her beautifully curved, fair leg. The gesture of crossing her arms over her chest accentuated her already impressive curves, creating a breathtakingly full silhouette beneath the palace dress.

She raised her chin slightly and said coldly, "Explain yourself."

Lu Zheji was in a dilemma. Although he had a quick wit and managed to smooth things over, minimizing the negative impact on the Lin family, he had still made a move in public at the Lin family's welcoming banquet, causing the second young lady an undeserved disaster.

Before he could even decide what to say, the door behind him was suddenly pushed open, and a pale yellow figure rushed in.

Su Wanning rushed forward to Lu Zheji and said urgently to Lin Zhengge, who was sitting on the armchair, "Zhengge, I'm sorry! Junior Brother only clashed with that person because of me, please don't blame him!"

Lin Zhengge's expression turned cold upon hearing this, but what made her face even more pale was Lu Zheji's next astonished words:

"Oh? Junior Sister, you're quite familiar with the Second Miss?"

Lin Zhengge: "Hmm?"

Su Wanning: "Hmm?"

Lu Zheji: "Hmm?"