The courtyard of the Whisper Bowl was still buzzing from the Emperor's unexpected arrival when the second wave of chatter rolled in.
The crowd of workers, vendors, and passing villagers remained gathered in clusters, whispering excitedly as they watched the "loving husband" offer fifty roses to his "runaway wife."
Someone muttered loudly,
"Look at him! Such a good man… giving flowers like that. That's real sincerity!"
"It must be that childhood friend of his—probably a shrew—who tried to create rift between these two."
"Exactly! Some married women can't keep their hands off other people's men."
"Poor husband! Only trying to make the wife he loves come home!"
The Empress's face slowly darkened.
Childhood friend?
Shrew?
They were talking about Lady Chen, who was indeed a shrew… but she wasn't the reason Lian An ran away.
This idiot Emperor was.
Still, the comments worked like a spark to dry hay. Her irritation doubled.
