You Should Have Some Shame
The moment Alexander Hayes heard Madam Lou had arrived, his face darkened.
No one knew better than Alexander Hayes just how much Lily Evans disliked Madam Lou.
Now, Lily risked her life to deliver the baby early for the child's health, suffered massive blood loss, and barely survived. If anyone dared upset Lily, Alexander would make sure they regretted it.
Alexander Hayes frowned, icy cold. He told the servants to refuse Madam Lou and send her away, then continued to stay by Lily Evans's side, not leaving for a moment.
The servant hurried off toward the gatehouse.
Although the servants of Prince of Qin's Manor didn't know Alexander Hayes's true background, they all believed Madam Lou was his biological mother.
But everyone knew Prince Alexander and Princess Lily had long fallen out with the Marquis Valor Estate. There was no contact between the two families, especially since Princess Lily absolutely couldn't stand the Marquis Valor Estate.
So, when the 'official' mother-in-law showed up, the servants blocked her at the door, refusing Madam Lou entry, making her wait in the gatehouse reserved for guests.
A mother-in-law getting stonewalled by her daughter-in-law like this—honestly, it's almost unheard of.
At that moment, Madam Lou stood anxiously with lavish gifts, waiting to be summoned, feeling almost like a minister hoping for an imperial audience.
Although Madam Lou had fallen out with Alexander Hayes before, he was now the chief contributor to Emperor Leonard the Enlightened's ascension, had thoroughly crushed the Gu Family, and stood unrivaled in court—even the Emperor treated him with great respect.
Seeing the situation, Madam Lou started desperately trying to curry favor with the Prince of Qin's Manor again.
These days, the two beautiful concubines at the Marquis Valor Estate had Marquis Valor completely wrapped around their fingers. As the official wife, Madam Lou was neglected and snubbed, and Marquis Valor hadn't set foot in her chambers for months.
Even Lucy Lou, once the apple of Marquis Valor's eye, was now out of favor. Marquis Valor couldn't be bothered to see her, spending all his time eating, drinking, and making merry with his two lovely concubines.
With both herself and her daughter out of favor, Madam Lou found herself squeezed out in the estate, barely able to keep her footing. Swallowing her pride, she remembered her adoptive son, now all-powerful, and hurried to the Prince of Qin's Manor to try and cozy up to Alexander and Lily while Lily was still recovering from childbirth.
Madam Lou sat waiting, growing more anxious by the minute, until finally the servant tasked with passing messages arrived.
Madam Lou shot to her feet, her anxiety plain to see. She was all politeness to the servant, almost groveling: "Please, would you take me to see the Prince and Princess Consort?"
The servant glanced at Madam Lou and gave a light cough. "Marchioness Valor, I never said I'd take you into the manor, so don't go putting words in my mouth."
Madam Lou froze, then lifted her gifts. "I'm the mother-in-law—can't I at least visit my daughter-in-law, who just gave birth, and see my own grandchild?"
The servant smirked, looking at Madam Lou with open disdain. "Marchioness Valor, don't play dumb. Everyone in the Prince of Qin's Manor knows how you once tried to harm our Princess Consort's mother. Prince and Princess Consort cut ties with you ages ago. Now our Princess Consort has just had a baby, and you really have the nerve to show up here? Tsk, that's some thick skin. Let me be straight with you: Prince said not to see you, and told me to send you away. You should really have some shame. Just because the Prince and Princess Consort are in power now, you think you can worm your way back in? Hmph. Don't blame them for not wanting to see you—go home and think about all the rotten things you've done. Seriously, have you no shame? Move along, move along!"