Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress
Chapter 447 Princess Helena Updated (1)_1

Chapter 447: Chapter 447 Princess Helena Updated (1)_1

By the time Cai Wei and Nangong Yi returned to the Waterside Pavilion in the Imperial Garden, the noon hour had passed, but the feast had not yet begun. The many invited nobles and their sons and daughters gathered in small groups, engaging in loud laughter or hushed whispers, all patiently waiting for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, showing no signs of impatience.

Cai Wei and Nangong Yi immediately drew everyone’s attention upon their return.

In the male guest seats, all the young masters looked enviously at Nangong Yi, firmly believing that he had just partaken in a blissful and intimate encounter, their envy towards his good fortune clear to see.

A couple of princes close to Nangong Yi cast meaningful smiles his way, their expressions suggestive, as if they shared some unspoken secret.

As for the probing and insinuations from the crowd, Nangong Yi offered no explanation, simply returning to his seat at a leisurely pace, a faint smile on his handsome face.

His smile easily inviting thoughts of the satisfaction and pride of a man post-indulgence, particularly as Nangong Yi addressed everyone’s speculation with a dismissive smile, merely laughing it off, further confirming the suspicions in their minds.

At the table, Huo Yuan’s expression remained as usual, as always the picture of poise and jade-like elegance. But inside, a storm was brewing.

She changed her clothes!

Though no one else seemed to notice, it didn’t escape his keen eyes.

The dress she was wearing today, specifically chosen and gifted to her by him through Duke An’s Mansion, was one he was all too familiar with.

Now the dress she wore was not the original Cloud Frost Flower Silk Woven Colorful Hundred Flower Flying Saucer Corset. While this dress was of a similar color to the one he had prepared for her, the original had been meticulously chosen for her by him and he immediately spotted the difference.

And her skirt, too, was not the original Flower Sprinkling Cloud Pattern Skirt. Instead, it was a Flower Sprinkling Bat-Cloud Pattern Skirt, a shade darker than the skirt he had chosen for her, more or less indistinguishable unless one looked carefully.

But he could tell.

In his eyes, the entire Imperial Garden and all of its attendees were nothing but a backdrop for her. His sharp gaze followed only her; no subtle change could elude his watchful eyes...

Her robes and skirt had been changed; even her hair had been redone. Her lips, too, were red as agate, slightly pursed and swollen...

Why did this happen? How did this happen?

He felt a sharp pain in his heart which disrupted his breathing and his normally calm expression. The hands resting on his knees clenched so tightly that veins were bulging on the backs of his hands.

"Nangong Yi..."

He muttered through gritted teeth...

After returning to her own seat, Cai Wei intentionally ignored the curious gazes from the crowd and addressed Wu Xiangyun affectionately, "Sister Xiang Yun, sorry to keep you waiting. Something came up and delayed us for a bit. Has anything happened here?"

Wu Xiangyun shook her head and replied with lips pressed together, "No, the Virtuous Consort had come by, but after hearing that the Empress Dowager was feeling unwell, she hurried off to visit her at Jade Palace..."

After finishing her sentence, she glanced around, seeing that the few ladies at the table had purposefully turned their faces away, she leaned in, whispering softly, "Cai Wei, are you okay? Were you bullied?"

"What?"

Cai Wei was taken aback.

Why would Wu Xiangyun think that?

Furthermore, if she thought so, did everyone else think the same?

Damn, her reputation, her maidenhood, it’s all ruined!