Supreme Ruler: Reincarnated as the Emperor's Bastard Son

The Royal Palace.

The place that symbolized and represented the Mauryan Empire.

It was a vast majestic castle built in the middle of the capital.

High walls covered all around the castle and a huge Lion statue were built in the front yard flower garden representing the Mauryan lineage.

There were five buildings inside the high walls that constituted the royal palace.

On the far right and left were the mansions where the maids and soldiers lived respectfully.

And about some distance from the soldier's adobe was the Guest mansion, where the ministers, generals, foreign envoys, and other guests resided temporarily.

Between the guest mansion and the Soldier's adobe, there was a huge training ground built for the training of royal guards that were stationed in the royal palace.

And besides, the maid's mansion was the Consort's palace where the Queen and the concubines of the emperor resided.

The consort's mansion was huge and particularly larger than other mansions. It just went to show the power of the Queen.

And finally at the center of all these structures was the Emperor's Adobe.

It was a huge skyscraper that didn't suit the technologies of this era, and at the peak of the Emperor's adobe, flames were burning fiercely.

There was a legend that the flames represent the Ruler of the Mauryan empire and as long as the emperor is alive the flames wouldn't stop burning.

'No matter how many times I see it, The Royal Palace sure is incredible.'

Ashoka said complementing the beauty and majesty of the Royal palace.

Once they entered the front garden of the royal palace, the steel carriage began to slow down.

Ashoka watched the different kinds of flowers and alluring plants that decorated the garden with keen interest.

[Whoever takes care of this garden sure loves the flowers]

Draco was unusually in a good mood watching the flowers in the garden.

[I can say it just by seeing, the flowers are happy]

'You can feel the flowers? Stop bull-shitting you crazy dragon!'

[A brat like you who is still wet behind his ears will never understand the beauty of nature]

'Whatever...'

Ahsoka ignored the bull-shiting Dragon and concentrated his attention on the matter at hand.

Sudhatta has already reached the royal palace two days before along with the Sena Knights and was currently residing in the guest adobe of the Royal palace, so Ashoka wasn't worried about him.

What he was worried though was about the Emperor.

How would the emperor react to the failed assassination attempt?

Ashoka was curious about that fact.

He silently smirked and closed his eyes.

In his past life, his father always abused him, and wanted nothing but for Ashoka to die.

Ashoka had hoped that this life would be different from his past life, but unfortunately for him, it seems his father in this life also wanted him to die.

It was ironic how his hopes turned exactly the opposite but Ashoka had no wish to die young like in his past life.

'Right. This time, I'll survive and thrive in this world.'

And that was only the beginning.

'I will eventually marry a beautiful girl and settle with my children in the countryside.'

And to that Ashoka was determined to get strong enough not to let anyone ruin his precious life.

'To get rid of my virginity in this life'

He was working hard towards a great cause.

"All hail!"

"All hail!"

The carriage came to a stop at the center of the garden.

The royal guardian knights who were on duty raised their blades and gave a sword salute.

Standing before them were Ashoka's 15 siblings and… his parents.

The Lord of the Great Mauryan empire and the ruler of the eight provinces, Bindusara Maurya, and all the potential successors to the throne were gathered in one place.

Having every single direct descendant of the royal bloodline together was an extremely rare occasion, so the current situation which happened only when a child returned from tempest manor was quite famous.

Creak…

The royal butler Peiro opened the carriage door.

Ashoka gently descended with Hema.

As soon as she got down, Hema bowed deeply before the emperor and Ashoka also lowered his head.

"It's been a long time, my dear."

Ashoka's mother, Chandralekha was the first to speak.

"Yes, mother."

Step, step.

Ashoka slowly walked towards his mother and the emperor who were standing together.

It was rare sight since only the queen was ever seen besides the emperor, not the concubines, but as Queen Charumitra was unable to attend this ceremony, Chandralekha as Ashoka's mother was filling the role.

As Ashoka tread forwards, he could feel the gazes of his siblings who were standing in line on both sides.

[There are many powerful people here]

Draco was curious about them.

Even excluding the siblings and the emperor, Draco noticed some very powerful aura hiding without getting noticed by anyone.

But he kept it for himself as he was aware Ashoka wouldn't be able to sense them.

'So, he is the brat that everyone is talking about.'

Kishor Maurya, the 12th prince thought looking at Ashoka who was slowly walking towards the emperor.

All the eyes were on Ashoka as he tried forward.

They were showing a mixture of surprise, amazement, and ridicule.

Except for Sudhatta who was seeing Ashoka with his normal gaze, every other of his siblings was glaring at him intensely.

"All hail the emperor"

Ignoring the gazes of his siblings, Ashoka bowed to the emperor as he got close to him.

"hmm"

The Emperor nodded his head and looked at the child in front of him.

"I heard there was an assassination attempt on you and that child, do you know who it is?"

It was the first question the emperor asked Ashoka.

Even while knowing the fact that he was attacked, he neither asked if he was alright nor was he worried about Ashoka.

On the contrary, he was curious if Ashoka was aware of the attacker's identity.

'Look at him acting all cautious! He is probably thinking that I am not aware of Anything'

For Ashoka, who was sure that the one who attacked him was the Emperor, he could only see the emperor's words as a cautious move.

"They are just fools, who don't know how to pick their enemies, you don't need to worry about that your highness"

It was a cheeky answer.

Ashoka was clearly saying that whoever attacked him was a foolish man who didn't know his place.

"Don't ever underestimate the enemies, Ashoka"

It was Chandralekha who intervened while being worried about Ashoka.

"You don't have to worry about it mother, I have no plans of leaving this world early"

They were words that are too mature for his age.

But the emperor's face as he heard them was quite serious.

Even his siblings were looking at him intensely, he could especially feel the killing intent from one of them.

"You seem to be gifted at making enemies, Ashoka. Your siblings are glaring at you so intensely, don't you think?"

The emperor said looking at his other siblings.

This was a warning.

For Ashoka—who had caused a ruckus as soon as he arrived at the royal palace—and also for the others.

A warning to them for daring to show killing intent in front of the Emperor.

The siblings immediately adjusted their expressions and stances.

"It appears so. But I believe I'm also gifted at killing my enemies, your majesty."

Ashoka's voice was ice cold as he said so in front of the emperor without any fear.

It seemed Ashoka was willing to face the emperor, it was not due to belief in himself, but due to his trust in the old man standing just behind the emperor.

Ashoka silently lowered his head and paid respect to the one from whom he had learned many things, the Sage of Wisdom, Chanakya.

The Old sage smiled contently at Ashoka's cheeky words and signaled at him to stop taunting the emperor.

Ashoka listened to the Sage and backed down.

Soon afterward, every prince and princess gathered today entered the mansion, and the banquet celebrating the twin's arrival at the royal palace which was delayed due to the assassination attempt began.

During the entire meal, most of the siblings stared at their ludicrous youngest brother with complex feelings.

And all of them had a similar thought.

'He is a damn crazy child.'

---***---