And the emperor is mostly preoccupied with ceremony and protocol, except when there’s a crisis, of course.” “And then?” “We advise him of his options and carry out his instructions.” I nodded. “The siege is a crisis.” “Of course.” “So you’ll do what I tell you.” “Naturally,” he said, face of stone, “in all matters pertaining to the crisis. As to ordinary everyday administration, we wouldn’t dream of bothering you with trivia.”
