He bows, holding a huge stick(symbolizing his high rank): "Your servant in this emperor's kitchen is ready." "Ok, bring be some česnek." the fairy asks.

Ch'ên under its original form, with curved outline, is supposed to represent a Minister bending before his Prince,

As lofty lords before an Eastern throne
Bend the whole body, not the head alone.

The term has been extended to include any one ruled, a subject, which is the meaning here.