@Pen3 then yeah, he's starting from scratch. I guess his assumption would be some rebels or loyalists or something are hiding her. He has no reason to assume that of all places she'd be hiding in the imperial palace. Of course one she heals him he'll be very suspicious.
This rumor thing is really stupid. Why wouldn’t the eastern empire rulers have heard it, when the rumor arose in their territory, before these outsiders? Laughable plotting or laughably written characterization.