Zoe was brought back to the palace, pleased that her situation seemed to be improving, but still frightened of the future. As soon as she arrived, Konstantinos nobelissimos and Michael V set her high up in the theatre and showed her to the rioters, doubtless so that their wrath might be calmed, since their empress had been brought back for them. But the populace was so angry with Michael that even Zoe did not calm them