Chapter 3: The Fake Son-in-law

  Madam Shen nodded slightly and picked up a red note on the table, saying seriously: "Zhu Ziming, do you know what's in this letter?"

  Since he's a courier, shouldn't he have some professional ethics? Zhu Ziming wouldn't dare to open it and take a look. He shook his head and smiled: "You're joking, madam. I'm just a delivery guy, how could I be so selfish as to open the envelope?"

  "Slap!" Madam Shen suddenly burst into anger, slapping the table: "Li Yun, do you think that just because your appearance has changed a bit, you can deceive me? Do you think that by returning that marriage certificate to me, you can just walk away? You are really despicable."

  "Li Yun?" Zhu Ziming was taken aback, looked around, and then pointed to his own nose, saying: "Is the lady calling me?"

  Zhu Ziming had a silly expression on his face, and the little maid beside him couldn't help but curve up the corners of her mouth in a smile, but just then Madame was getting angry, so she immediately wiped away her smile.

  "Are you still pretending to be stupid with me? The Shen family has treated you well, but you actually ran away from the wedding and made the Shen family lose face. What have you done with Xiang'er?" Madam Shen said angrily.

  Mrs. Shen went on and on, and Zhu Ziming, who had been confused, suddenly realized that Mrs. Shen actually thought of herself as Miss Shen's fiancé, which was ridiculous.

  After careful consideration, Zhu Ziming quickly understood the subtlety of it all. Could it be that his lifesaver was actually Li Yun? Since he had been asked to deliver Shen Miss's wedding letter, it must be true that Li Yun was indeed the one who had spoken on behalf of Shen's husband.

  After staying in Lingyun City for a few days, Zhu Ziming had already figured out the ins and outs of the Shen family. Although Li Yun was engaged to marry into the Shen family, due to his family's decline, he was forced to become a son-in-law, but being a proud person, he refused and ran away from the marriage.

  "Madam, I'm innocent! I really am not Li Yun," Zhu Ziming said with a bitter smile, and yet they actually took him for that scoundrel Li Yun.

  Mrs. Shen's eyes narrowed, seemingly very unwilling to hear this: "What evidence do you have?"

  "Only heard Zhu Ziming say: 'Madam, I originally lived in the city of Lingyun, my family had a house and land, life was joyful and boundless. Who knew that Li Yun, he was ruthless and merciless, colluding with mountain bandits without regard for heaven, occupying my large house and seizing my land. As a small person, I managed to escape with my life intact. By chance, I obtained Li Yun's marriage certificate on his person, I will never forget this vendetta..."

  Under the rich and sonorous reading voice, Xiaotou and the old housekeeper were already stunned, while Mrs. Shen was shocked for a moment before scolding with a mix of anger and amusement: "A pack of nonsense!"

  "Haha......" Zhu Ziming smiled and said: "What you said, madam, is exactly what I wanted to say. What Li Yun are you talking about? Don't talk nonsense, madam."

  The smile in Xiaoyao's eyes grew even more pronounced. This person indeed had a bit of literary flair, and his words flowed smoothly off the tongue.

  If Zhu Ziming knew what she was thinking, he would immediately thank CCTV6 for playing "Tang Bohu Dian Qiuxiang" so many times on the movie channel.

  "Mrs. Shen was furious: 'Fine, if you say you're not Li Yun, then where did this marriage certificate come from.'"

  "Madam, Li Yun doesn't seem to have as thick a skin as him," said Li Guanjia in a low voice.

  This kid has always been a sly and shameless one.

  Zhū Zǐ said: "It was a young nobleman who asked me to deliver this."

  "Where is the young master now?" asked Mrs. Shen immediately.

  "I'm not sure about that, ma'am. You wouldn't want me to find him, would you?" After all, he had saved his life before, so Zhu Ziming wouldn't betray him, and he asked with a smile.

  "Smooth talker, I'd like to see how long you can keep making excuses!" Madam Shen said coldly.

  After a pause, Zhu Ziming saw the uncertain look in Madame Shen's eyes and suddenly thought of why Li Yun had asked him to deliver the message. He quickly guessed the reason behind it and sighed: "Since you're convinced I'm Li Yun, then so be it. However, let me make one thing clear - I'm an imposter!"

  Since Li Yun wanted me to take his place as the son-in-law, and Madame Shen was also stubbornly holding on, I'll just take his place then. But this lifesaving favor is indeed not easy to repay, and it turns out I have to marry someone else's wife in return.

  Fake? Madame Shen didn't understand what this meant, but seeing him nod in agreement, she felt relieved. Her poor daughter was already 22 years old, if she didn't get married soon, wouldn't it be a joke to the whole world and become a widow? She decided not to care whether he was real or fake for now, and just keep him at Shen's house first.

  Madam Shen glanced at the little maid beside her: "Ziyun, take him to the west wing to rest."

  Live with her? It seems that this matter has already been settled, Zhu Ziming didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Being able to marry the beautiful Shen Miss was every man's dream, but becoming a lower-class son-in-law, he should be crying instead?

  At this moment, Zhu Ziming's smile was even uglier than crying: "I hope Madam can agree to one of my requests first?"

  "Speak!"

  "My name is Zhu Ziming!"

  Mrs. Shen understood his meaning, hesitated for a moment, and nodded: "Okay!"

  "Auntie, I'll take him there," said the little maid who was called Zhiyun, looking at Zhu Ziming with a hint of a smile.

  "Come with me."

  After Zhu Ziming followed Zhīyún out, Li the housekeeper said in a low voice: "Madam, this matter is somewhat improper. We still can't determine whether he is Lee Yun or not."

  Li Guanjia had already known the answer in his heart, but he didn't dare say it.

  Madam Shen knew this point, gritted her teeth: "No matter if he is Li Yun or not, as long as the marriage certificate is on his body... Do I still have to let my daughter Xiang'er drag on for a few more years?"

  The young lady is now past the age of majority, and in a few more years, won't she become a laughing stock for everyone? It seems that madam has her reasons for doing this. Mr. Li nodded: "But Miss..."

  "When Xīn'ér returns, I will personally tell her," said Madame Shen, closing her eyes lightly, as if the previous conversation had exhausted all her energy.

  Seeing Madam was tired, Li the housekeeper tactfully withdrew.

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  "I'm asking you, Zi Yun, is this Mrs. Shen your aunt?" asked Zhu Ziming as he walked along the stone path in the Shen Manor garden to Lin Zi Yun ahead of him.

  Lin Zhīyún didn't even turn her head back, her voice somewhat low and husky: "Mm..."

  Looking at that thin back, Zhu Ziming felt as if he had said something wrong and carefully asked: "What about your cousin, what does she look like and what is her personality like?"

  "Hmph..." Lin Zhīyún laughed and immediately put on a serious face, saying: "What my cousin's temperament is like has nothing to do with you. Are you or are you not my cousin's fiancé?"

  Zhu Ziming smiled and said, "You'd better ask your aunt about this. Whatever she says is true..." He had already understood in his heart that Mrs. Shen knew he wasn't Li Yun, but insisted on him pretending to be Li Yun.

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