Acshully, the emperor is a perpetual that has guided mankind since the stone age in one form or another. Supposedly he has at times acted in the background and sometimes taken on the role of famous leaders. He also can appear as he chooses, iirc most people just saw their own idealized version of the perfect human when looking at him due to his psychic powers.

In short, dude is “immortal” and for all intents and purposes a god with god like powers. Looks like he wants, or even like you subconsciously want.