Leap Forward Comics: Watch How I Become a Villainess

Chapter 156 The New Emperor Ascends the Throne, A Prosperous and Peaceful Era Begins

After the border unrest was quelled, the northern cities gradually restored their border defenses.

Liao Chen volunteered to stay on the northern border, temporarily filling the gap in the number of border guards.

In addition, the north is barbaric, and neither Bai Jin nor Bai Yu is suited to live in such a wild and untamed place.

In comparison, his battlefield experience was far more seasoned.

Bai Jin, concerned for the people on the frontier, volunteered to stay and help. The border defenses were currently weak, and the enemy states to the north were already eager to attack. Liao Chen, though brave, lacked strategic acumen.

Li Cen naturally understood that the situation of internal and external troubles had been stabilized, and now only external troubles remained, while the internal situation had been largely pacified.

So she left most of the army to Bai Jin and Liao Chen.

In the end, he only took Bai Yu and 50,000 troops back to the capital.

Lu He, together with Grand Tutor Gao and other senior officials, has made all the necessary arrangements, including the enthronement ceremony.

On the day Li Cen entered the capital, Lu He personally greeted him at the city gate.

"Your Highness!" Lu He dismounted and waved to Li Cen, looking very happy.

Seeing the genuine smile on the other person's face, Li Cen felt all the gloom from the recent battle vanish.

She gently tugged on the reins, and the horse strode forward.

I walked up to her.

stop.

She looked up.

She looked down.

The two seemed to understand each other perfectly.

Cherish each other.

Smile at each other.

Lu He reached out, took the reins from Li Cen's horse, and led it into the city.

Li Cen, mounted on horseback, was clad in golden armor and full of military attire.

He had the air of a majestic military general.

Lu He, walking slowly in front of the horse, was wearing official boots and a red official robe.

The two of them resembled a beautifully unfolded painting.

Ancient city and ancient road, a beautiful woman with heroic spirit, a righteous young girl.

Both of them wore gentle smiles that were hard to describe, as if they were walking together with their most trusted and intimate partners.

"Why did you come out to greet me?" Li Cen asked softly, looking at her slender back.

“Isn’t that how it should be? You are the ruler, and I am the subject.” Lu He did not answer directly.

"Isn't it because you're worried about me, or because you want to see me?"

Lu He was taken aback when Li Cen asked such a blunt question.

"Your Highness, Your Highness...you..."

"Why are you stuttering?" Li Cen laughed triumphantly. "What, as best friends, isn't it only natural for you to think of me?"

"Oh, yes, yes, that's right." Lu He's heart skipped a beat.

Li Cen suddenly pulled on the reins, and the horse stopped.

She dismounted and approached Lu He.

Li Cen was a little shorter than Lu He. She approached Lu He, raised her head, and looked directly at the tip of her nose.

"Why are you nervous?"

"No, no, Your Highness, aren't you going to ride a horse?" Lu He looked away, and she had to admit, she was flustered.

She had always known that Li Cen liked women, but she didn't know how to deal with it.

With her intelligence, how could she not see Li Cen's feelings?

Seeing that she was avoiding him, Li Cen was secretly pleased.

If you have nothing to hide, you can't possibly escape.

Lu He's series of reactions just now showed that she had developed different feelings for Li Cen's words, "Isn't it because you're worried that I want to see you?"

Because a close, honest friendship wouldn't lead to such panic and a desire to hide it.

Her panic and avoidance indicated there was hope. How could Li Cen not be excited?

"Your Highness, Grand Tutor Gao has already arranged for the execution of Prince Hu." Unable to face Li Cen's burning gaze, Lu He quickly changed the subject.

"You will come with me. I need you to personally read out the charges against the King of the Swan in front of the people, and then issue the execution order."

Upon hearing about the important matter, Li Cen indeed regained his composure. "Alright, let's get down to business first."

Hu Wang and Mo Gan have been taken to the Dragon Head Guillotine and Tiger Head Guillotine, respectively.

The executioner was already in position.

Only the position of the messenger was vacant; everyone was waiting.

As the crowd of onlookers eagerly awaited the spectacle, Lu He, accompanied by the eldest princess in full military attire and silver armor, walked over with unhurried, noble, and dignified grace.

"Is that Her Highness the Eldest Princess? She's so beautiful!"

The people talked a lot.

"With his imposing presence and dragon-like face and phoenix-like eyes, he truly has the countenance of an emperor."

"I heard that Her Highness the Eldest Princess will be holding her coronation ceremony today."

"Really? Our dynasty is going to have an empress?"

Listening to the praise and exclamations from the people.

Li Cen lowered his head and quietly asked Lu He, "What enthronement ceremony?"

"Oh, Grand Tutor Gao and I have prepared everything. After you oversee the execution, the officials here can announce your achievements in suppressing the rebellion to the people."

Lu He explained to her, "You just need to come back to the palace with me to hold the coronation ceremony."

"You did all of this for me?" Li Cen's eyes were full of anticipation.

"Yes, it is my duty," Lu He emphasized again, highlighting their relationship as ruler and subject.

“Oh, and another thing,” Lu He seemed to remember something: “Nie Qing was originally An Daohe’s daughter, An Linqing. I have restored her identity, and she wants to stay in the court to seek the well-being of the people.”

"Are you... helping her by asking me for an official position?" Li Cen's words carried a hint of jealousy.

“She has done a lot for us, so this is a reward she deserves. And it’s a good thing that she wants to be an official; at least in the court, she is still one of your people.”

Lu He sensed Li Cen's jealousy but pretended not to notice.

To everyone's surprise, Li Cen suddenly stopped being angry and even started humming a little tune, which put her in a much better mood.

“Okay, I understand. I’ll find her a suitable official position.” Li Cen agreed readily.

Lu He was baffled, wondering what had made this young prince so happy again.

She didn't know how much Li Cen meant by her statement, "She did a lot for us."

She is herself, and you and I are us.

That's why they say that when someone falls in love, they'll win themselves over.

Following the indictment Lu He had given her, she read aloud all of the King of Hu's crimes, including rebellion, collusion with the enemy, treason, massacre of a city, oppression of the people, cruelty, and inhumanity.

Too numerous to recount.

After the execution order was read aloud, Li Cen threw down the execution token. Amid cheers from the people, Hu Wang and Mo Gan were beheaded.

Then Li Cen followed Lu He out of the crowd, where a palanquin was waiting.

The officials behind him began to read out Li Cen's achievements. The sedan chair then proceeded towards the palace.

In front of the main hall, a huge red carpet was laid on the jade-green ground, and gold and silver jewels were displayed on both sides.

On both sides of the ninety-nine steps stood hundreds of officials.

The steps were covered with a gorgeous gold and red velvet cloth, with a phoenix flying in the sky totem on it. Sunlight fell on it and refracted into colorful patterns.

Guided by Lu He, Li Cen walked step by step toward the main hall.

The surrounding officials all knelt on both sides, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

Inside the hall, a group of high-ranking officials of the court were already kneeling on the ground, waiting for the new emperor to step into the hall.

Lu He stopped and watched Li Cen go inside alone.

Li Cen glanced back at her, his eyes filled with gratitude and determination.

She nodded to Lu He, walked towards the palace entrance, and was immediately surrounded by the waiting maids on both sides.

Li Cen, clad in a dragon robe, stood proudly alone with the bearing of an emperor. He strode confidently across the threshold of the main hall.

"Welcome the new emperor to the throne!" the messenger shouted.

Inside and outside the palace, all the officials kowtowed in unison: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Lu He also knelt outside the hall, along with the other officials.

Li Cen successfully completed his enthronement ceremony and ascended the throne. It's time to say goodbye.

Lu He lowered his head and smiled helplessly.

Finally, she fulfilled her wish to become emperor, and she will surely be a good emperor.

As for herself, once she completes her mission, she will likely be recalled in the next instant.

A pang of reluctance stirred within her. She looked up, wanting to take one last look at Li Cen's slender figure in the hall. Was she always that thin?

Lu He sighed with emotion, thinking that her small frame had borne all the burdens and hardships, and in the end, she had even taken on the responsibility of supporting the entire nation.

How wonderful, Li Cen.

Her admiring gaze seemed to reach Li Cen, who sensed something and turned to look outside, searching for her figure.

Suddenly, Lu He felt a sharp pain in her chest, dizziness, and uncontrollable forward fall. She spat out a mouthful of blood and fell heavily to the ground.

Her vision was blurry, and before she lost consciousness, she seemed to see someone running towards her desperately...