I agree that the empress has not been empress-like in certain situations, I mean, she seems to be always the last one to know of the things going on in the palace. the way she acts as empress looks to me like she thinks that such a role is not a human role...
the emperor is just like a little boi who dreams of a romantic fulfilling life. the way he treats the empress with regards to rashta is tinged with this preconceived notion that the empress will bully rashta, but he has a very definite grasp on her tendencies when it comes to her duties as empress...
rashta is a desperate woman who had her ambitions soar with the advent of ascending to heaven coming from the very bottom of hell. the people around her are also using her for various schemes...
lastly, is it just me, or did Heinly send his friend (was is the duke? rashta's friend) to incite war?