Originally Posted by
Segev
In fact, if anything, this would be a strong reason to have a law which, even if this is normally not permitted, gave the Emperor a legal right (and perhaps responsibility) to have a harem of wives and concubines, the children of which are all considered legitimate. Even if nobody else is permitted this, it makes sense due to the national security concerns surrounding the imperial bloodline. If the Emperor (or Empress) happens to ALSO fill it with members of his (or her) own sex for his...personal taste...that's his (or her) prerogative. Though that would open sticky questions of the parentage of the harem-produced children, since the mixed-sex harem could be *ahem* entertaining itself. At least with a male Emperor. A female Empress obviously is going to know which kids are hers.