Her Majesty The Empress Has Made Her Debut In The Center Position [Ancient to Modern] - Chapter 17
Only after Jian Li, looking utterly bewildered, turned around like a wandering ghost to ask her teammates if there really was food stuck in her teeth—and after they repeatedly assured her it was just the “Perfect Pair’s” scheme to disrupt morale and dragged her away—did Shen Xin turn around to face her teammates’ awkward, helpless looks.
She shrugged. “I just said I didn’t learn anything.”
The “Perfect Pair” Group: “……”
You’ve clearly learned too much!
“What else is there?” Song Jiangjiang was the first to speak, but unexpectedly, she was begging for lessons. “Did you see Jian Li’s face just now? It cracked me up! I want to learn how to do that too! I want to be able to fluster people like that!”
Qiao Yue silently raised her hand. “Me too.”
Zheng Dongqing, on the other hand, had no desire to learn. With her family’s wealth and connections, she didn’t need tactful words to get what she wanted—money could open any door. But if she could make her opponents’ faces turn as dark as pig’s liver, she wouldn’t mind.
So she eagerly joined in. “Sit.”
Yu Cheng: “……”
Ji Zhao: “……”
They still had so much to learn!
“It’s not a big deal,” Shen Xin said, genuinely baffled by her teammates’ thought processes. She regretted not having her phone right now; otherwise, she wouldn’t have to teach them in person. “But I do have an absolute killer comeback.”
Everyone leaned forward simultaneously.
Shen Xin: “……”
Unaccustomed to such intense scrutiny, she propped her elbow on her knee, covering half her face. “Let’s say you bought a beautiful dress, dressed up for work, and a colleague saw you and said, ‘Oh my, who are you dressing so fancy for?’ How would you respond?”
Song Jiangjiang blurted out, “None of your business!”
Realizing she was still on camera, she quickly added to the lens, “Please edit that out, or just beep it. I know you have the tech for that.”
Follow PD: “……”
Classic veteran of variety shows.
Shen Xin shook her head. “While blunt, that’s not the killer comeback.”
Qiao Yue pondered deeply but couldn’t think of a better response. She whispered to Ji Zhao beside her, “Zhaozhao, if it were you, how would you handle it?”
Ji Zhao pondered.
If she had custom-made an exceptionally lavish imperial robe, defying tradition by wearing makeup to court, and a censor criticized her for such a gaudy display, how would she respond?
Her teammates: “……”
No way! It’s not that bad!
“What?” Ji Zhao glared around the room. “If you want to wear makeup, you have to wake up earlier than usual. Sacrificing sleep time is already annoying enough, and now you’re getting sarcastic remarks? Doesn’t that deserve beheading?”
Her teammates: “……”
That actually makes sense!
Ji Zhao snorted. How ungrateful! If she were still the Emperor… At that thought, she realized Yu Cheng hadn’t spoken in a while. Feeling inexplicably guilty, she glanced at Yu Cheng, who was quietly watching her with clear disapproval in her eyes.
…I forgot that Esteemed Minister Yu still has some expectations of the Emperor.
Lowering her voice, Ji Zhao reassured her, “Don’t worry, I’m not that cruel. I just wanted to scare them a bit.”
Yu Cheng’s expression softened slightly, then clouded over with guilt. “I shouldn’t have doubted you. You’re not that kind of person… you…” She pressed her lips together. “You’re the best.”
“You two can be all lovey-dovey later…” Song Jiangjiang grumbled, nudging Shen Xin. “Just tell us how to pull off the game-winning move already!”
The Perfect Pair Group: “……”
That’s an absolute game-changer!
Shen Xin turned sideways, clearly amused. “Jiangjiang.”
Song Jiangjiang, completely unguarded. “What?”
“I think I have the perfect comeback for you.”
“Oh? Spill!”
“In the same situation, with the same words, after he says it, you just grab his leg and beg, ‘Please, stop saying that! I swear I’ll never wear makeup or try to be the center of attention again! Don’t talk about me like that!'”
“……”
Half a minute later, joyful banter erupted from the practice room of The Puppet Show‘s Group A, leaving passing trainees heading to the cafeteria after class utterly baffled.
How well trained are they? To be this happy?!
After lunch, all the trainees returned to their practice rooms, immersing themselves in intense training.
Only the Perfect Pair Group remained focused on building their chemistry. However, Ji Zhao believed their coordination had already been effectively honed during lunchtime, when Song Jiangjiang had playfully chased Shen Xin. The reason they continued practicing wasn’t necessity, but simply because Shen Xin and Song Jiangjiang enjoyed hearing their embarrassing stories.
The Director of Publicity spoke with a tone of great responsibility: “Our group has so many promising candidates!”
The six trainees exchanged puzzled glances, unsure what he meant.
The director explained: “There’s a lot of online buzz about you.”
The trainees remained confused.
The director finally said: “…You all look great.”
This “great” didn’t just mean the standard pretty or beautiful, but rather distinctive—eye-catching and memorable.
Right now, only the self-introductions and formulaic photos of the 108 trainees had been publicly released. There were barely any leaked photos, and forum discussions kept circling back to the same standout features.
For example, Yu Wangmeng’s daughter; for example, the CEO who personally scouted contestants for the Debut! Girl show; for example, the wealthy young lady who tried to get selected as Initial Center through backdoor connections but failed; for example, the overworked employee who posts daily on Weibo with a deathly pale face, as if the world is about to explode; for example, the anime-loving girl with social anxiety; for example… uh, Song Jiangjiang.
Song Jiangjiang: “……”
Why is she just a name?!
After recording the announcement, Ji Zhao took a sip of carbonated water and handed the bottle to Yu Cheng beside her. “Peach-flavored. It’s delicious.”
Yu Cheng accepted the bottle.
During regular training, no one had the time or energy to put on makeup. Trainees who cared about their on-camera appearance would wear light makeup. Ji Zhaozhao, however, had such naturally radiant skin that she looked beautiful even without makeup, her lips red and teeth white, glowing even after a sip of water.
Yu Cheng took a sip, feeling a bubbly excitement rise in her chest like the carbonation in the water. She pursed her lips, suppressing her smile, and looked up to meet her teammates’ expectant gazes. A question mark seemed to hover above her head. Just as she was about to ask what was wrong, Song Jiangjiang said, “I don’t know why you’re smiling so mischievously, but it’s your turn now.”
Ji Zhao nodded. “Zheng Dongqing just said she once raced horses for face, nearly got thrown off and nearly died. As soon as she dismounted, she threw up—and then the horse threw up. She lost all her face.”
Zheng Dongqing: “……”
Why was she making her relive it?
Ji Zhao continued, “When Qiao Yue was in middle school, a girl confessed to her while she was wearing short hair. She said she was a girl too, and after hesitating a whole night, the girl told her that even girls can like her.”
Yu Cheng was stunned for a moment, then asked the question everyone was thinking: “And then?”
Qiao Yue’s face turned bright red. “It was right before the high school entrance exam, so I still rejected her.”
Under her teammates’ knowing looks, Qiao Yue quickly changed the subject. “Isn’t it Yu Cheng’s turn now? Yu Cheng, what’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever experienced?”
Yu Cheng thought back.
“It was when I was fourteen, during the Imperial Autumn Hunt.” Yu Cheng carefully chose her words. “There was a thick fog that day, making hunting extremely difficult. But I’d already declared before we started that I would hunt a cheetah that day.”
Qiao Yue hesitated. “Hunting…”
Song Jiangjiang was on the verge of a breakdown. “That’s illegal, isn’t it?!”
Why are my teammates suddenly acting so law-abiding?!
Zheng Dongqing suggested, “Are you talking about a game?”
“It is a game,” Ji Zhao picked up the thread. “That’s where I met Yu Cheng—in this game. She was my teammate, but I stayed in the command tent, waiting for her to return victorious.”
She never returned victorious. Instead, a panicked palace maid rushed in. “Your Majesty! Major General Yu has gone missing!”
Ji Zhao had grown up with Yu Cheng, and they were very close. Later, when Ji Zhao ascended the throne and their relationship became that of sovereign and subject, Yu Cheng, perhaps wary of gossip, maintained a careful distance, treating her with proper respect. This deliberate detachment frustrated Ji Zhao, and for a time she ignored Yu Cheng. But the moment she heard the news, her heart clenched. Defying the opposition of her ministers, she personally led a search party to find Yu Cheng.
The autumn mountains were shrouded in dense fog, punctuated by the occasional howl of wolves and the fleeting glint of green eyes. The unknown was terrifying.
Yu Cheng said, “I did.”
She had fallen off the mountain while separated from the group. Her horse had bolted in fright, and her leg was mangled and bleeding. She could only wait for rescue, until the sky gradually darkened, until she could no longer feel the pain, until the moonlight parted the mist.
No, it wasn’t moonlight. It was a lamp. It was Ji Zhaozhao, carrying a lamp, who stepped through the mist to stand before her.
Yu Cheng snapped out of her reverie. “…How embarrassing, right?”
Ji Zhaozhao agreed. “Utterly embarrassing.”
The mighty Major General, stumbling in a ditch. Enough to be the talk of the town for a lifetime.
Yu Cheng sighed softly. His Majesty had indeed teased her about this many times, even bringing it up in official memorials, making her feel… Hmm? Why were her teammates looking at her with such strange expressions?
Song Jiangjiang: “Are you here to reminisce about childhood sweethearts and sell your maidenhood?”
Zheng Dongqing: “We know, we know! The whole world knows you two have known each other for ages!”
Shen Xin: “I can’t take this girl-on-girl stuff…”
Qiao Yue…
Follow PD: “……”
You guys should just say something that’s safe to air!
At the Debut! Girl estate, trainees were working overtime to prepare for the First Stage performance. After returning to their dormitory, they received the news: the Center Position for the theme song had been decided—Ji Zhaozhao from Class A.
At the restaurant entrance, the Assistant Director handed Ji Zhao the Center Position tag. “Congratulations, Zhaozhao!”
In his mind, Ji Zhaozhao’s emotions should have progressed from “surprise” to “incredulity” to “joy.” Though this range of emotions was challenging to portray, the Assistant Director believed she should express genuine emotion, raw and unfiltered.
He wasn’t the only one anticipating this moment; the Follow PD he brought along was also eagerly awaiting it. With his camera trained on Ji Zhaozhao, he stood ready to capture the joyous instant.
But unexpectedly, a flicker of bewilderment crossed Ji Zhaozhao’s eyes. She lowered her gaze to the conspicuous “C” on the tag, then asked, “Why me?”
The Assistant Director: “???”
And why isn’t Ji Zhaozhao showing any joy on her face?
Ji Zhao didn’t receive an immediate answer and hummed in confusion, her voice rising with authority. The assistant director’s legs went weak, and he immediately answered, “This is the result of a joint vote by the five mentors and initiators. Teacher Cheng said that although you missed the beat in the chorus, your overall control of the song and your learning ability make you worthy of the Center Position.”
“Oh,” Ji Zhao replied, still showing no sign of joy.
Realizing he couldn’t get any further, the assistant director signaled to the Follow PD and said earnestly, “The recording for the theme song stage is in two days. Make sure you prepare well and don’t get nervous.”
…Although he didn’t see any trace of nervousness on Ji Zhaozhao’s face.
After the assistant director left, it took less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn for the news to spread throughout the entire estate.
Although most trainees still only knew Ji Zhaozhao from the pre-show “jumping from the building” incident, it didn’t stop them from passing by Room 309, either intentionally or coincidentally, to offer their congratulations.
“Zhaozhao! You’re the Initial Center! So amazing!”
“The teachers must really like you! Can I stand next to you during the theme song recording?”
“Your dorm is full of hidden talents! Can I be an unofficial member of your dorm? Let’s get to know each other! I’m Qian Xingxing—money always wins!”
“Are you done yet?” Shen Yican leaned down from her upper bunk, her long hair swaying mid-air. “It’s just Initial Center! It’s not like she’s been eliminated!”
Chen Xingzi rolled her eyes at Shen Yican.
She grabbed Ji Zhao as she passed by, speaking earnestly. “Zhaozhao, you must stay on your toes in the upcoming rounds. Don’t let this setback knock you down!”
Ji Zhao, still bewildered about even being named Initial Center, was further confused by Chen Xingzi’s anxiety. “What do you mean?”
Chen Xingzi raised her voice. “You don’t know?”
“…Know what?”
“The curse of the show!” Chen Xingzi’s tone turned grave. “In the first season of Debut! Girl, Zhang Pan was the Initial Center—a top-tier trainee who never made a mistake on stage. She was comfortably ranked first in the initial rankings, but ended up debuting at seventh place, causing her popularity to plummet.”
“In the second season, Lin Dian was the Initial Center—a vocalist with heavenly talent and backing from a powerful company. Can you guess what happened? She finished eighth in the finals and completely missed out on debuting!”
Ji Zhao: “……”
This is so complicated, even more so than being the Emperor.
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