He initially tried to cow them, which didn't work, then to destroy them, but he had a crisis of conscience. I think that representative of his presumably improved outlook, he will bow to the throne or Tuon in some manner. This is made more likely by the events on the Seanchan side of things. Tuon held off on becoming Empress and taking a new name because their customs and laws could not allow anyone to be the equal of the Empress, and she wanted to give herself some breathing room in dealing with Rand, rather than trying to force his submission or antagonizing him by adhering to their protocol which he had not been raised to accept. Now, however, she has taken the final step and CANNOT deal with him as an equal. If Rand is to deal further with the Empire, he MUST bow to Tuon, barring, as always, some radical change in the paradigm.