The Emperor is surrounded by women - wives, concubines and relatives, that are addressed as Empresses, Dowager empresses, Deputy Empresses - that on a theoritical level put him in the highest position and in thory, follow his wishes and demands.
However, in practice, the Emperor has little actual authority while the women - the Empresses - make all the practical decisions and use the Emperor as a rubber stamp for their decisions.
So what is it?