Think about it those guys who run things behind the scenes are pretty tough and seem to control every aspect of the society. so could it be that the King is not really the king and in fact an empty figurehead or could they have him under their control ? or could it be the real king died a while ago and in order to keep the peace they brought in a look alike to take his place which s why they push so hard against people talking to him directly. that kind of thing has been done before. and if people know chaos would run rampant across the city and destabilize it.

I was also wondering about that. The King threw this huge party but could not be bothered to show his face? Something is up. I don't think that he is dead but he might be brain washed. Much like King Thoden in Lord of the Rings, he is still the King but he has no power and all the decisions are made by his assistant.

He didn't show his face because just as his sedan chair thing was about to be put down, Aang made his presence known. Since Long Feng couldn't risk having the king find out about the war, he had him taken out of the room again. We don't know yet whether or not he would have shown his face, but what he was sitting in was similar to what Azula was riding in once. I think that he IS the king, but he has no power.

long feng probably wishes he was the king but he isnt so he tells the king lies to make him believe things so the city goes by his screwed up rules

Long Feng is controlling everthing, but there is no way the king is dead.?? Im geussing that the king did die years ago, but his son now rules as king.?? He is most likely Toph's age and a mighty earthbender.?? He is underinformed about what is really happening having grown up entirely inside of the city.?? In the season 2 finale he will see the horror of war from whatever big event will occur (personally i thinkl there will either be a fire nation attack in ballons or a battle of Aang vs. Azula for Suki's release) and in the end he will start gathering his armies for an attack.