hapter 466
“It’s… it’s a messenger from the palace,” the steward stammered, clearly flustered.
“What? Then where is Lord Osborne?” Willow was so startled she nearly lost her footing.
Visitors from the palace never brought good news.
The steward, still anxious, said, “His Lordship hasn’t returned yet. The Queen sent her matron, and she’s waiting in the front hall right now.”
Willow gasped.
If it were good news, Michael wouldn’t still be out.
The Queen sent someone-could it be for her?
Feeling a knot of unease tighten in her stomach, Willow finally reached the front hall-just as she feared, the Queen’s matron was already standing there, ramrod straight.
Willow’s scalp tingled as she stepped forward. “Matron, forgive my late greeting. May I ask what brings you here?”
Though only a servant, the matron served at the Queen’s side and showed not a hint of fear, even before Willow.
In a calm, measured tone, the matron announced, “By order of Her Majesty the Queen, I am here to admonish you.”
“Admonish me?” Willow’s heart clenched. ‘So it really is about me,’ she thought in panic.
She slowly knelt, her face full of helplessness. “I accept your admonition.”
“Lady Willow, you have acted without virtue or decorum, spreading rumors that led people astray and nearly caused disaster. Her Majesty decrees: as this is your first offense, you are to receive fifty slaps as a warning. Should there be a next time, there will be no leniency.”
As the matron finished reading the decree, Willow’s face turned deathly pale and she collapsed to the floor.
Would she even survive fifty slaps?
“Lady Willow, forgive me.” The head matron, face expressionless, stepped up to Willow and swung her arm in a wide arc, landing a resounding slap across her face.
Willow let out a sharp scream, clutching her cheek.
In her panic, she fumbled out a pouch of silver, trying to bribe the matron. “Matron, please, show some mercy.”
The matron’s eyes widened in shock, staring at Willow as if she were a fool.
How dare she bribe the Queen’s envoy!
Willow might not understand this was the Emperor’s decree.
Besides, there were people from the Heaven Hall here as witnesses.
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