Her Majesty The Empress Has Made Her Debut In The Center Position [Ancient to Modern] - Chapter 34.3

The five contestants’ names appeared vertically on the big screen, with their vote counts rapidly increasing beside them.

Ji Zhao calmly watched the screen, feeling Qian Xingxing’s grip tighten around her hand. She gently squeezed back, noticing Qian Xingxing’s vote count stop at 121. Surprisingly, Qian Xingxing sighed in relief. “That’s even more than I expected!”

Perhaps for dramatic effect, or because some voters were genuinely undecided, the vote counts advanced slowly.

The Director played solemn background music, heightening the tense atmosphere. Everyone stared anxiously at the screen, growing more nervous each time a contestant’s count stopped.

Zhou Yuting was the third to stop at 121. Her earlier mistake had cost her many votes, but despite her serious expression, she seemed strangely relieved.

Next was Li Yunyue, whose long dance training and striking stage presence had won her many fans. With around 150 votes, she finally felt a weight lift off her shoulders—no more attention on her.

Only Ji Zhaozhao’s vote count continued to rise steadily, gradually surpassing her teammates’ scores.

One vote at a time, then another.

Each vote represented a carefully considered choice.

Just as Ji Zhaozhao’s fans breathed a sigh of relief and the host was about to announce her victory, Tong Wei’s vote count, which had previously plateaued in second place, suddenly surged—from 100 to 310 in a single jump.

The arena erupted in chaos.

“What just happened?! Are my eyes deceiving me?”

“Holy shit! Is there a bug in the production team’s voting system? Where did those 200 votes come from?!”

“No way… Are they openly rigging the game for the Royal faction now? Have they lost all shame? Stuffing the ballot so blatantly? Do they think we’re all idiots?”

Ji Zhao frowned, Tong Wei’s earlier words flashing through her mind like lightning. She whipped around to glare at her rival.

Tong Wei met her gaze without a trace of provocation, yet showed no remorse. She lowered her headset and whispered, “Ji Zhaozhao, even if you lose, you’ll still advance. But if I lose, I’m done.”

Ji Zhao also adjusted her headset. “Where’d those votes come from?”

Before Tong Wei could even speak, the host was already explaining: “These are actually votes from the VIP boxes! For those who don’t know, let me explain: there are three VIP boxes set up for this event, and each VIP vote counts as a hundred regular votes. The hundred votes for Tong Wei came from VIP Box 1 and VIP Box 2!”

“Holy crap! Some fans have special privileges? Is this what they call ‘pay-to-win’?”

“I heard the VIP box tickets start at 20,000 yuan each. Only mega-rich women can afford those…”

“You think I don’t know any rich women? Tickets for those boxes are impossible to get! Money can’t even buy them! And to think all of them were snapped up by Tong Wei’s fans. So this is what they mean by ‘average-looking but attracts wealthy women’?”

“No way! Could Ji Zhaozhao actually be losing?”

“How can a regular player possibly win against a pay-to-win player? That’s 310 votes! Even if Ji Zhaozhao—”

“Damn! Damn! Damn! They’re still voting! Some people haven’t even used up their votes yet!”

Tong Wei’s expression changed.

She murmured, “How is this happening?”

Ji Zhao watched her vote count rapidly surpass 310 and continue to climb steadily. She chuckled softly, “My fans are quite strategic.”

Tong Wei took two steps back, her mental defenses crumbling completely.

Ever since she learned that a single vote from a VIP box counted as a hundred regular votes, she’d hatched a plan. She contacted an old friend, made promises, and had the friend purchase an expensive VIP ticket—all to secure first place. So why had she still lost to Ji Zhaozhao?

How could this be…?

How could this be? How could this be?!

The vote count locked.

Ji Zhaozhao’s final vote count—

“394! Congratulations to Ji Zhaozhao for securing 394 audience votes!” The host’s voice rang with excitement.

“She’s won first place in her group! Congratulations!”

In the backstage room where they were watching the live broadcast:

Song Jiangjiang grabbed Yu Cheng’s arm and shook her wildly. “Holy shit! These vote numbers are insane! Ji Zhaozhao is incredible!”

Shen Yican murmured, “This is the true will of the audience… Popularity can’t be bought with money alone.”

Yu Cheng, however, remained calm.

She had always been certain Ji Zhao would win. “Against absolute talent, all tricks and gimmicks are meaningless.”

“I’ll put my money on it: Ji Zhaozhao is definitely going to win the dance category. No one will surpass her vote count. Her numbers blow everything else out of the water.”

“How do you tactical voters even hold out until the last minute to cast your votes…? Ji Zhaozhao’s fans are terrifying! Not only is the queen herself fierce, but her fans are all hardcore!”

“Don’t call her a queen—call her Emperor Your Majesty…”

“What? Isn’t that a derogatory term? Are her fans actually using it themselves?”

“If you’ve got such a badass nickname like ‘Emperor Your Majesty,’ why not use it? Now all these guys are freaking out, saying emperors are supposed to be male. Let me ask you something: do you know how the title ‘Emperor’ even came about? Coincidentally, Ji Zhaozhao has a fan who’s a history professor…”

“And an archaeology expert…”

“And a literature professor specializing in Qin and Han culture…”

“What’s this? Are you implying there’s an educational threshold to be a Ji Zhaozhao fan? I heard she’s even planning to take the graduate school entrance exam herself.”

Ji Lin scrolled through the forum replies, relieved. She couldn’t help but ask Zhong Qingxiu, “We have fifty votes. Why didn’t we vote for Zhaozhao? We wouldn’t have been so nervous.”

Her heart had nearly stopped from fear earlier. Though she hadn’t particularly wanted Zhaozhao to win, she hated the idea of her losing even more.

She had almost voted, but Zhong Qingxiu had stopped her.

Zhong Qingxiu explained, “They say talent shows aren’t about fairness, and online voting favors VIPs. But here, I want to see Zhaozhao win through her own talent.”

“Every vote counts—earned by her skill. They’re invaluable.”

Ji Lin asked, “Are you going to see her now?”

Zhong Qingxiu hummed in agreement. “There’s nothing left to see after her performance. Summoning her here would draw too much attention. Arrange it. I’ll meet her backstage.”

“Yes,” Ji Lin replied.

Off to the side of the stage, the Dramatic team exited. Unlike the waiting group, which buzzed with encouragement, the Dramatic team was eerily silent.

The Follow PD trailed behind them in silence. The Director had instructed them to capture every detail of the team’s departure, assuring them that the production team would air whatever they filmed, no matter what.

Ji Zhao walked at the front, each step steady and composed.

Qian Xingxing followed closely behind, Zhou Yuting beside her. The two seemed to have much to say, but the oppressive silence, combined with the camera’s presence, forced them to communicate solely through glances, sparks flying between them.

Behind them walked Tong Wei, her steps unsteady as if in a trance. As Ji Zhao approached the corner, Tong Wei suddenly called out, “Ji Zhaozhao!”

Ji Zhao’s footsteps paused.

Qian Xingxing and Zhou Yuting exchanged bewildered glances. Before they could react, Tong Wei quickened her pace, passing them to stand face-to-face with Ji Zhaozhao.

“I’m really going to be eliminated,” she said, her lips trembling. “Do you know how badly I want to debut? Do you know how hard I’ve worked to make it happen? Why? First Yu Cheng, now you. Why are you both blocking my path to debut?”

Ji Zhao clicked her tongue.

She found this whole thing quite annoying. She’d never wanted to block anyone’s path. These talent shows were all about winning the audience’s favor through voting. Winning that favor was all about skill. How was that blocking anyone’s path?

Besides, Yu Cheng was about to take the stage. She really didn’t have time to waste here arguing with Tong Wei.

Just as she was about to brush Tong Wei off with a few curt words, hurried footsteps approached. Someone stepped in front of her. “Tong Wei, you’ve got your cause and effect mixed up.”

Tong Wei’s eyes widened. “Li Yunyue? What right do you have to speak here? Get out of my way!”

Li Yunyue clenched her fists and took a deep breath. “I just want to tell you that talent shows are all about competing on skill. If you can’t win the audience’s favor, look inward and find the problem. Stop wasting your energy on pointless self-doubt and stop lashing out at others!”

Zhou Yuting and Qian Xingxing exchanged glances: Is this still the Li Yunyue we know?!

“Even though everyone’s been supporting the idea of avoiding internal conflict, you’re taking your anger out on the wrong person! Zhaozhao hasn’t done anything wrong! She’s been working hard to perfect her stage performance and win over the audience—what’s she done wrong?”

“How is it right to take your frustration out on her like this?!”

Follow PD: “……”

Holy crap! This explosive scene! She’s got to capture it! She’s got to capture it! She’s got to capture it!

Ji Zhao hadn’t expected Li Yunyue to come out and defend her, and she froze momentarily. Only after Li Yunyue finished speaking did she realize all the eyes on her, her face flushing crimson. “…I’m just going to go now!”

She fled, leaving her teammates staring after her in stunned silence.

Tong Wei was left utterly dumbfounded by the outburst. Zhou Yuting and Qian Xingxing sidestepped her, pulling Ji Zhao along. “Let’s go. We still have to watch the performances. I’m really looking forward to Yu Cheng’s What Should I Do?—she’s so adorably cute, you can’t get enough!”

Ji Zhao didn’t spare Tong Wei another glance as she followed the two around the corner. But just as they were about to disappear, a voice called out, “Zhaozhao! Ji Zhaozhao!”

It wasn’t just Ji Zhao anymore. Even Qian Xingxing’s lips began to twitch. “Zhaozhao, your popularity is overwhelming! I get that they call your name during the show, but why is there still such a crowd after you’ve left the stage?”

Ji Zhao was helpless.

She just wanted to go back and wait for Yu Cheng’s performance. Why was this so difficult?

She turned around and saw a member of the production team running over, gasping for breath, the name tag around their neck swaying in the air. “Zhaozhao, someone’s looking for you.”

Ji Zhao remained unmoved. “Who?”

She wasn’t interested in meeting anyone unimportant.

The staff member replied, “Her name is Ji Lin. She says someone very important wants to meet you.”

Someone very important?

Who in the Ji family could that be? The Old Man Ji would never lower himself to meet her. Ji Jing, though the male heir of the Ji family, wouldn’t care much about Ji Lin. Could it be… Old Lady Zhong Qingxiu?

Ji Zhao told her teammates, “Go back first. I’ll go meet her.”

After a pause, she added, “If Yu Cheng asks, tell her the truth. Tell her not to worry, I’ll be back soon.”

The staff member led her to a break room at the end of the corridor. The room was filled with the calming scent of sandalwood. An elderly woman with kind eyes sat on the sofa facing the door, her gaze gentle and warm. “Zhaozhao,” she said.

Ji Zhao thought to herself, I guessed it right.

It was indeed Zhong Qingxiu.

According to Ji Zhaozhao’s memories, her impression of Zhong Qingxiu wasn’t strong. She only knew that Zhong Qingxiu had married into the Ji Family through a commercial alliance. A marriage, a transfer of patriarchal and marital authority, was a woman’s entire life.

Ji Zhaozhao had spent almost no time with this grandmother, let alone enjoying her company. So, Ji Zhao spoke to Zhong Qingxiu with indifference: “Hello,” she said, sitting down. “Did you need something from me?”

Zhong Qingxiu was studying her, and Ji Zhao was scrutinizing Zhong Qingxiu in return.

Zhong Qingxiu had come with Ji Lin. Had Ji Lin said something to her grandmother after returning? Or had Old Man Ji sent Zhong Qingxiu? What was the purpose?

Ji Lin scolded, “What kind of attitude is that! Don’t you know how to address people properly?”

Ji Zhao glanced at her. “No, I never learned.”

Ji Lin was speechless, unable to think of a comeback. Defeated, she closed her mouth and turned to Zhong Qingxiu.

Zhong Qingxiu smiled. “You should call me Grandmother, or Grandma.”

Ji Zhao readily agreed. “Hello, Grandma.”

She glanced at the time. Yu Cheng had already gone to the waiting area.

Noticing her movement, Zhong Qingxiu cut straight to the point. “Last time Linlin came to see you, she told me everything when she got home. I just wanted to see you for myself.”

Ji Zhao smiled. “It’s a pity I’m still competing and can’t properly host you.”

Zhong Qingxiu shook her head. “These are trivialities. We’re family; there’s no need for such formalities. I came to ask you: What are your plans after you debut?”

Plans after her debut?

Ji Zhao thought, If returning to the Great Qi Dynasty goes smoothly, I should already be gone by then. Any plans after my debut will be Ji Zhaozhao’s problem to worry about—if she even makes it back.

Zhong Qingxiu asked, “Do you want to return to the Main Family?”

Ji Zhao froze. “Wait a minute.”

“What’s wrong?” Zhong Qingxiu asked.

Ji Zhao looked at the TV on the opposite wall. “Can this TV be turned on?”

Ji Lin couldn’t help but snap, “What are you doing? Grandma is talking to you about serious matters, and you’re thinking about watching TV?”

“If this TV can’t be turned on,” Ji Zhao said, “I might have to leave for a bit. Yu Cheng’s show is about to start, and I promised her I’d watch.”

Ji Lin was furious. “You—”

Zhong Qingxiu raised her hand. “Go ask if it can be turned on.”

Ji Lin reluctantly went to find a staff member. They turned on the TV, connected it to the internal network, and finally got it set up. By then, Yu Cheng’s group had already taken the stage. Amidst the arena’s cheers, pink bubbles floated through the air.

Ji Zhao thought to herself, The director doesn’t know how to cut. Yu Cheng’s smile is so sweet—they won’t even give her a close-up.

She watched the stage, but spoke to Zhong Qingxiu. “What does Grandmother mean by ‘return to the Main Family’? To learn how to manage the company? Or to bring a son-in-law into the Ji Family and start a new branch?”

Zhong Qingxiu chuckled. “It seems you have a rather poor impression of the Main Family.”

Ji Zhao smiled. “If that weren’t the case, you wouldn’t have waited this long to visit me, would you?”

Zhong Qingxiu gave her a deep look. “I want you to return to the Main Family, not to learn company management or to expand the Ji Family’s branches through marriage. I want you to inherit everything the Ji Family possesses.”

Ji Lin gasped. “Grandmother!”

On stage, Yu Cheng winked into the mirror and sang, “What should I do? I can’t speak of my love. You’re so annoying—won’t you help me out?” The syrupy sweetness made Ji Zhao’s heart ache. When the camera cut to another angle, she slowly withdrew her gaze. “Inherit the Ji Family?”

“If I’m not mistaken,” she continued, “inheritance rights are specified in Old Man Ji’s will.”

Zhong Qingxiu hummed in acknowledgment. “He’s still alive, so the will can still be changed.”

“Why me?” Ji Zhao asked.

“If you must know,” Zhong Qingxiu replied, “among the younger generation, you’re the least bound by the Ji Family’s traditions and the least concerned with their outdated values. And intuition.”

“My instincts tell me that choosing you means victory,” she said.

Ever since her parents arranged her marriage to the Ji family at age twenty, she had lost so much, most painfully the right to pursue freedom. The Ji family’s contempt for women had subjected her to endless humiliation. She didn’t want to wait for Old Man Ji’s death to settle scores; she wanted him to feel the loss of freedom while he still lived.

Ji Zhao understood. She poured a cup of tea and handed it to Zhong Qingxiu with a smile. “Grandmother has excellent judgment.”

If she could give Ji Zhaozhao a grand gift before leaving, why not?

She turned back to the TV.

The stage performance was over. The camera swept past Yu Cheng, the Grand General Yu, who stood unfazed under the spotlight before suddenly breaking into a radiant smile.

She was stunning, peerless in beauty.

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