Supreme Ruler: Reincarnated as the Emperor's Bastard Son

Blood dripped down the socked clothes of the young man as he neared the throne where the ruler of the great Maurya, the emperor, Bindusara Maurya was seated.

Bindusara Maurya was seated.

As Ashoka walked through the halls, he noticed that the nobles and officials were frozen by the sight of a 15-year-old boy covered in blood. They looked at him with disgust, and Ashoka could feel their judgmental gazes upon him.

He ignored their stares and walked towards the throne, where the emperor was seated. He knelt before him, showing suitable respect and humility, that he should.

"Glory to the great Mauryan, long live the emperor."

Despite the blood that covered him from his fight with the trolls, he spoke with confidence in his voice.

The emperor Bindusara Maurya looked at him with a mixture of shock and anger.

"What is the meaning of this, Ashoka?" he asked, gesturing towards the blood that covered him.

Ashoka stood up and looked the emperor in the eye.

There was a movement of staring contest between him and the emperor as he later spoke, "Your majesty," he said, "I apologize for my appearance. I have just returned from the Tower of Wisdom, On the way here, I encountered a group of trolls. I had no time to clean myself before coming here."

It was a silly excuse, but the emperor has no choice but to dismiss it.

The reason being that the one who was in the wrong was the emperor himself.

Despite knowing the fact that Ashoka was returning to the royal palace, no guards were dispatched to escort him back which was a blatant disrespect to a Prince of the empire.

Dismissing his words the emperor nodded, but Ashoka could see the disapproval in his eyes.

It made him smile.

"I see," said the emperor, his voice stern. "But you should have taken better care of your appearance before coming here. You represent the Mauryan empire as a prince, and you must always act with dignity and honor."

Ashoka bowed his head, feeling a sense of happiness.

He knew that the emperor couldn't do anything to him even if he wanted to so he was taking full advantage of the fact.

'The expression on his face is priceless,'

Seeing that he resolved to do better in the future.

The emperor Bindusara continued, "Despite your appearance, you have done well."

The emperor looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before speaking again. "However, there is one more matter that we must address. As you know, our customs dictate that a prince must be assigned a land to rule over when he comes of age. You are now 15 years old, and it is time for you to be assigned a province."

Ashoka felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. He had been looking forward to this moment for a long time, and he was eager to prove himself as a ruler.

He was curious as to what region he will be assigned too.

The emperor continued, "However, given your recent actions, I must assign you a province that is away from the capital. It would not be appropriate for you to rule over a province that is close to the center of our empire."

Ashoka felt a sense of disappointment. He had hoped to rule over a province that was close to the capital, where he could learn from experienced rulers and officials like Sage Chankaya and many more. But he knew that he had to accept the emperor's decision.

The emperor spoke again, "I have decided to assign you the Taxila province, to the south of our empire. It is an enormous province, with great people and a rich culture. You will learn much from ruling over it."

'What?'

That was Ashoka's first thought!

The Taxila province.

Located in the south of the empire and just near the Kalinga kingdom was a place that was always immersed in war.

-Step

-step

-step

Steps of the young man resounded in the royal court as the officials and ministers gathered there froze at the scene in front of them.

-drip

Blood dripped down the socked clothes of the young man as he neared the throne where the ruler of the great Maurya, the emperor, Bindusara Maurya was seated.

As Ashoka walked through the halls, he noticed that the nobles and officials were frozen by the sight of a 15-year-old boy covered in blood. They looked at him with disgust, and Ashoka could feel their judgmental gazes upon him.

He ignored their stares and walked towards the throne, where the emperor was seated. He knelt before him, showing suitable respect and humility, that he should.

"Glory to the great Mauryan, long live the emperor."

Despite the blood that covered him from his fight with the trolls, he spoke with confidence in his voice.

The emperor Bindusara Maurya looked at him with a mixture of shock and anger.

"What is the meaning of this, Ashoka?" he asked, gesturing towards the blood that covered him.

Ashoka stood up and looked the emperor in the eye.

There was a movement of staring contest between him and the emperor as he later spoke, "Your majesty," he said, "I apologize for my appearance. I have just returned from the Tower of Wisdom, On the way here, I encountered a group of trolls. I had no time to clean myself before coming here."

It was a silly excuse, but the emperor has no choice but to dismiss it.

The reason being that the one who was in the wrong was the emperor himself.

Despite knowing the fact that Ashoka was returning to the royal palace, no guards were dispatched to escort him back which was a blatant disrespect to a Prince of the empire.

Dismissing his words the emperor nodded, but Ashoka could see the disapproval in his eyes.

It made him smile.

"I see," said the emperor, his voice stern. "But you should have taken better care of your appearance before coming here. You represent the Mauryan empire as a prince, and you must always act with dignity and honor."

Ashoka bowed his head, feeling a sense of happiness.

He knew that the emperor couldn't do anything to him even if he wanted to so he was taking full advantage of the fact.

'The expression on his face is priceless,'

Seeing that he resolved to do better in the future.

The emperor Bindusara continued, "Despite your appearance, you have done well."

The emperor looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before speaking again. "However, there is one more matter that we must address. As you know, our customs dictate that a prince must be assigned a land to rule over when he comes of age. You are now 15 years old, and it is time for you to be assigned a province."

Ashoka felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. He had been looking forward to this moment for a long time, and he was eager to prove himself as a ruler.

He was curious as to what region he will be assigned too.

The emperor continued, "However, given your recent actions, I must assign you a province that is away from the capital. It would not be appropriate for you to rule over a province that is close to the center of our empire."

Ashoka felt a sense of disappointment. He had hoped to rule over a province that was close to the capital, where he could learn from experienced rulers and officials like Sage Chankaya and many more. But he knew that he had to accept the emperor's decision.

The emperor spoke again, "I have decided to assign you the Taxila province, to the south of our empire. It is an enormous province, with great people and a rich culture. You will learn much from ruling over it."

'What?'

That was Ashoka's first thought!

The Taxila province.

Located in the south of the empire and just near the Kalinga kingdom was a place that was always immersed in war.

The emperor spoke again, "I have decided to assign you the Taxila province, to the south of our empire. It is an enormous province, with great people and a rich culture. You will learn much from ruling over it."

'What?'

That was Ashoka's first thought!

The Taxila province.

Located in the south of the empire and just near the Kalinga kingdom was a place that was always immersed in war.

Dismissing his words the emperor nodded, but Ashoka could see the disapproval in his eyes.

It made him smile.

"I see," said the emperor, his voice stern. "But you should have taken better care of your appearance before coming here. You represent the Mauryan empire as a prince, and you must always act with dignity and honor."

Ashoka bowed his head, feeling a sense of happiness.

He knew that the emperor couldn't do anything to him even if he wanted to so he was taking full advantage of the fact.

---***---