Her Majesty The Empress Has Made Her Debut In The Center Position [Ancient to Modern] - Chapter 39

News of the faulty lie detector spread like wildfire through the estate.

Zheng Dongqing leaned out of the window of Room 205 and shouted to a trainee returning from the Horror Box, “I heard Ji Zhaozhao got a terrible shock! Is that true?”

“It’s really true!” Song Jiangjiang shouted from Room 311 upstairs. “I was right outside the door when I heard those screams!”

On the balcony of Dorm 113, bathed in the bright sunlight after the rain, Qiao Yue was braiding Pei Jia’s hair. Hearing Song Jiangjiang’s voice, she looked up. “Jiangjiang, did you get shocked?”

Song Jiangjiang vehemently denied it. “Of course not! I’m an honest girl!”

A lazy voice drifted from Room 209. “She’s lying. She got so rattled by the shock that she asked the Director where they bought the lie detector, threatening to file a complaint.”

Shen Yican clicked her tongue. “That’s nothing compared to Yu Cheng trying to buy out the whole show.”

He Yumeng leaned forward excitedly. “Yu Cheng got shocked too?!”

“What? Who got shocked?” Several curious faces from Group B of “The Puppet Show” soon crowded around her, each with a different expression.

Shao Ke winced sympathetically. “Oh no, my idol got shocked too?”

Ding Yan misinterpreted. “Isn’t my idol you?”

Zhong Ruohan muttered resentfully. “There are so many rich people. What’s one more like me?”

Jian Li sighed. “Even just getting shocked got you so much attention. You’re really popular.”

Song Jiangjiang frowned. “Your group gets so much screen time!”

Shen Yican corrected her. “I said Yu Cheng wanted to acquire the company because Ji Zhaozhao got shocked, not her.” She glanced around at the trainees below, nodding solemnly. “And when Yu Cheng did get shocked, she flung the lie detector across the room. The moment it hit the ground, she smashed it to pieces.”

The trainees: “……”

Don’t provoke Yu Cheng. That phrase should be etched into their DNA.

 

The assistant director had only one thought: relief that the lie detectors were sponsored, and that the sponsor had provided four of them. At least they wouldn’t have to stop filming the game.

But he sternly warned Yu Cheng, “Violence won’t solve problems! You broke the equipment! The sponsor will be angry! But the show effect was good, so we’ll consider it a merit to offset the demerit. We won’t hold it against you.”

Yu Cheng immediately asked, “Sponsor? The company that made the lie detectors?”

“Exactly!” the assistant director replied.

Yu Cheng asked, “Can we acquire it?”

The assistant director hesitated.

Young Miss, are you here to be a tycoon on a talent show?!

After receiving no answer from the assistant director, Yu Cheng felt quite disappointed. Back in Dorm 113, she told Ji Zhao about it. Ji Zhao said it was simple—just ask someone from the company.

Ever since Yu Cheng returned to Timely Entertainment and instructed the finance and legal teams to hire new staff, the company had gradually become more complete.

From recruiting staff to setting up departments, and then having those departments continue hiring to fill out their teams, Ji Zhao had reviewed every single resume and had Zhong Qingxiu review them as well, giving the company a rough outline.

Before 2 PM, the evaluation department sent over a PDF. It analyzed the acquisition from every angle, concluding that there were only downsides and no benefits. Looking at the company’s financial flow, it even suspected money laundering. The report concluded with, “Ji Jing has also invested in this company, wanting to test the waters in this sector. Ji Jing’s track record has never been good.”

After reading it, Ji Zhao chuckled and replied in an email: “Release the news that I want to acquire it, but only negotiate—don’t actually do it.”

Yu Cheng’s heart stirred. “Are you trying to lure Ji Jing into investing more?”

Ji Zhao gave her an approving look. “I’ve reviewed his track record over the past few years. His judgment is terrible, but Ji Song still refuses to give up on his precious grandson. He only asks him to be more cautious with his investments—not to expand the family’s fortune, just to avoid losing everything.”

“But if Ji Jing finds out I invested, what will he do?” Yu Cheng asked.

“He’ll panic,” Ji Zhao replied.

Ji Jing had inherited the Ji family’s contempt for women. He reveled in the adoration of women while despising them, and his resentment toward his never-surrendering younger sister, Ji Zhaozhao, made his teeth itch. He was constantly seeking ways to suppress her.

Now, an opportunity had been delivered to his doorstep. Why not seize it?

He wouldn’t see “Timely Entertainment” as hesitation; he’d see it as a lack of funds. He wasn’t short on money, and the chance to torment Ji Zhaozhao would be immensely satisfying.

Ji Zhao continued, “Once Ji Jing takes the bait, we’ll report the money laundering. Twenty-four hours in jail will be enough to humiliate him.”

Yu Cheng genuinely admired her. “That’s brilliant.”

Ji Zhao tried hard to act indifferent to the praise, but after a moment, a small hint of pride slipped into her expression. She couldn’t help but curl the corners of her lips. “Right?”

Yu Cheng smiled. “You’re the best.”

Ji Zhao sensed something was off.

Although she had always told Yu Cheng to stop calling her “Your Majesty,” Yu Cheng had always paid lip service to the request. Whenever they were alone, she would invariably address her as “Your Majesty.” But now, with the dormitory empty, why hadn’t Yu Cheng used the title? Had she finally taken Ji Zhao’s words to heart? Or had something happened last night while she was drunk?

 

After a moment’s hesitation, Ji Zhao said, “Take your medicine and go to sleep. You need to rest today; we’re leaving tomorrow.”

Tomorrow’s filming of the second Ranking Announcement would be particularly grueling. The production team was planning to take them to the grasslands, a drive of four to five hours away—a long journey that would be detrimental to Yu Cheng’s health.

After Yu Cheng took her medicine and fell asleep, Ji Zhao hurried to room 311.

Ying Tian had returned to school for mid-term exams and would join them directly at the grasslands tomorrow. Zhou Yuting was sprawled on the sofa, sound asleep with a tablet in her arms. Beside her, Song Jiangjiang was watching a horror movie with her eyes covered. When Ji Zhao tapped her on the shoulder, she jumped up with a scream: “Ghost!”

Ji Zhao: “……”

She glanced at Zhou Yuting, who had been startled awake by the commotion and was now turning over to go back to sleep. Ji Zhao made a hushing gesture. “Follow me.”

Five minutes later, Ji Zhao and Song Jiangjiang sat on tall stools outside the convenience store, each sipping a juice through a long straw coiled twice around the glass. The brightly colored liquid curved around their lips, its tangy sweetness a perfect antidote to the heat.

Song Jiangjiang felt like she had escaped a disaster. “Anything else you want to ask?”

After learning from Song Jiangjiang what she had done while drunk, Ji Zhao fell into a prolonged silence. When Song Jiangjiang spoke again, she asked, “Murdering someone to silence them is illegal here, right?”

Song Jiangjiang paused. “Right.”

Curious, Ji Zhao asked, “Where isn’t it illegal?”

Everywhere.

But if this had happened during the Great Qi Dynasty, to prevent such a scandal from damaging the imperial family’s reputation, Song Jiangjiang would likely have been sentenced to permanent confinement within the Imperial Palace. But now—

Ji Zhao shook her head. “I just feel a little embarrassed.”

“It’s not that bad!” Song Jiangjiang said. She’d seen all sorts of bizarre things online, and Ji Zhao’s drunken antics didn’t faze her at all. “I once saw a drunk guy kissing a streetlight!”

“Really?” Ji Zhao asked.

“Yeah!” Song Jiangjiang replied. “My phone’s dead, but I’ll look up the video for you when I get home!”

Ji Zhao sighed in relief. “That’s a relief.”

Song Jiangjiang: “?”

Why did she suddenly feel like she’d narrowly escaped disaster?

“What’s wrong?” Song Jiangjiang asked. “Why did you suddenly ask that?”

Ji Zhao looked distant. “I just feel like Yu Cheng has been acting strange. I’m worried I might have scared her.”

Song Jiangjiang snorted. “Is that all? I suspect Yu Cheng has an eight-hundred-layer filter when it comes to you! Even if you were kissing a utility pole, she’d probably just regret that you weren’t kissing her!”

Kissing?

Ji Zhao’s heart skipped a beat.

Did she really kiss a utility pole after drinking? And then Yu Cheng’s filter shattered, and she wasn’t as deferential to Ji Zhao as before… The more Ji Zhao thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. She clicked her tongue.

Seeing Ji Zhao’s distress, Song Jiangjiang offered a solution. “If you’re worried about the awkwardness, I can ask for you.”

Ji Zhao looked up. “What’s the catch?”

Song Jiangjiang grinned. “Just buy me another cup of watermelon juice!”

Ji Zhao chuckled. “Deal.”

 

Tomorrow’s recording for the second Ranking Announcement. Center Position: Ji Zhaozhao. Stay tuned!

Who’s maintaining the Center Position by selling out? I won’t say.

Some of you opponents need to stop being so sour. It’s not like we don’t sell out—we just don’t have anyone interested.

Before the voting was locked, wasn’t Yu Cheng’s vote count almost catching up to Ji Zhaozhao’s? Are Yu Cheng’s fans just not good enough, or are the CP fans just biased? Shouldn’t Yu Cheng get a turn in the Center Position too?

Stop stirring up trouble… Even when Yu Cheng joined, she said the Center Position should go to Ji Zhaozhao.

You sly, conspiracy-obsessed fans, still shipping this toxic pairing?

Can’t this talent show just be live-streamed? Every time I fall for a trainee and get ready to vote, they get eliminated in the next round. It’s killing my non-lucky fan spirit.

Non-lucky fans should just support Ji Zhaozhao. No loss, no gain.

Seriously, admins, can’t you control Ji Zhaozhao’s fans? Their constant flooding is driving me crazy.

Hey, I saw you supporting Tong Wei on your profile. Why don’t you quit that group first? I got insider info—Tong Wei won’t make it to the next round. What are you still hanging around for?

Mind your own business! I’m just saying the production team is biased! All Things Entertainment is doomed!

Amidst the warm greetings from fans, the remaining seventy-five trainees of “Debut! Girls” boarded a bus at 5 a.m. the next morning, heading towards the grasslands.

As they traveled through desolate suburbs, the awakening city, and highways occasionally crossed by heavy trucks, the scenery gradually widened. A red sun slowly rose over the grasslands’ horizon, and a shepherd paused to lift his hat while herding sheep. Ji Zhao captured the scene, freezing a classic grassland sunrise with sheep in her phone.

“Send me this photo! I’m going to post it on Weibo!” Pei Jia knelt in the back seat, eagerly admiring Ji Zhao’s photography skills. “I’ll credit the photographer.”

Ji Zhao wasn’t particularly concerned about the credit. Seeing Pei Jia’s enthusiasm for promoting herself was rare, so she simply sent the photo over. “Go ahead and promote yourself.”

The trainees who had slept most of the way were now wide awake. Some took selfies, others posed for group photos, and a few snapped the scenery. The bus grew lively as trainees flocked to Ji Zhao and Yu Cheng for pictures. The pair stood like tourist attractions, their poses stiffening. Song Jiangjiang suggested, “How about I take a photo of you two?”

 

After taking the photos, Ji Zhao immediately posted on Weibo: “One Day on the Grasslands [Tired]”

The nine-grid photo collage placed the picture of Ji Zhao and Yu Cheng in the center, leaving Yu Cheng fans speechless and Yuzhao CP fans shocked. “Are they…? They are, right? Thank the Buddha for the freebie!”

Ji Zhao commented, “Good shot,” then texted Song Jiangjiang: “Did you ask yet?”

Song Jiangjiang cleared her throat and replied: “Don’t rush.”

Ji Zhao: “You’re too slow.”

Song Jiangjiang: “I need to find a chance to talk to Yu Cheng alone, right? She’s glued to you all day—where am I supposed to find a moment? Just give her some space after the Ranking Announcement.”

Ji Zhao: “Got it.”

“Who are you chatting with?” Yu Cheng suddenly asked.

Ji Zhao instinctively flipped her phone screen away from Yu Cheng, her voice vague: “No one.” She quickly changed the subject: “Aren’t you going back to sleep? Feeling better?”

Yu Cheng’s cold had come on suddenly. Worried about infecting Ji Zhao, she put her mask back on after the photo shoot. “Much better,” she replied, looking intently at Ji Zhao. “Is there something you’re hiding from me?”

Ji Zhao denied it: “No.”

Yu Cheng said, “I remember the production team brought a lie detector.”

Ji Zhao: “……”

She leaned against the car window. “Yu Cheng, you’re getting bolder, daring to use a lie detector on me?”

Yu Cheng lowered her long, thick eyelashes. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Ji Zhao scoffed. “Go to sleep.”

“Yes,” Yu Cheng replied.

But inwardly, she felt a little wronged.

Your Majesty came here, and I should be the one she trusts most. But so many people like Your Majesty and are her friends. Does she have secrets now? Secrets she can’t share with me?

Yu Cheng turned and glanced at Song Jiangjiang.

Song Jiangjiang was still typing away in Ji Zhao’s chat window. Though Yu Cheng couldn’t clearly see what she was typing due to the glare, she was certain it was a message for Your Majesty.

Yu Cheng irritably licked her back teeth. Seeing a mosquito trembling on Song Jiangjiang’s arm, she swatted it.

Song Jiangjiang yelped in pain. “What was that for?!”

Yu Cheng held out her palm. “There was a mosquito.”

“Oh…” Song Jiangjiang said.

But inwardly, she wondered, Did she really need to hit so hard to kill a mosquito?

Did I offend Yu Cheng somehow?

 

At three in the afternoon, after a quick touch-up, the trainees sat in the production team’s designated area on acrylic chairs marked with their names. As they waited for Cheng Feiwan to arrive for the evening segment, they grumbled about the scorching sun, wondering how many more shades darker their skin would be after filming.

Fortunately, the temperature wasn’t too high. The long, grassy breeze carried across the prairie, the vast sky dotted with clouds, making the atmosphere pleasantly comfortable.

“If they announce the rankings here, where will we sit after advancing?”

“Where’s Teacher Cheng? This wind is making me drowsy.”

“I saw on the forum yesterday that after advancing, we have to ride horses. That can’t be serious, right?”

The trainees whispered among themselves until the rhythmic clatter of hoofbeats echoed across the grasslands. They all looked up as a rider approached from the horizon, their figure bold and spirited against the backdrop of the endless plains.

The trainees stood up, and those with sharp eyes recognized the rider: “It’s Teacher Cheng!”

Cheng Feiwan, having learned horseback riding for a previous role and honed her skills further after filming, arrived in a crisp riding outfit that accentuated her natural beauty. “Hello, everyone!” she called out.

A group of horses followed behind her, guided by stable staff. Riding leisurely across the grass, she explained the rules to the trainees: “Though it may seem bizarre, these horses represent your debut spots.”

She dismounted. “The winners will each receive a horse. Don’t worry, they’re well-behaved—just sit on them.”

She smiled. “How about that? Surprised?”

The trainees: “……”

Song Jiangjiang: “Can I not advance?”

Pei Jia: “I’ve been saying for ages that I should be eliminated…”

Zhou Yuting: “I actually want to try riding one!”

Qiao Yue: “What if it goes berserk?”

Zheng Dongqing: “Good thing I’ve studied horseback riding.”

The trainees’ reactions varied, but only Yu Cheng seemed genuinely eager. Since arriving in the modern world, she hadn’t touched a horse. Her Majesty had once bestowed upon her a fine steed named Moon Chaser, with whom she had spent every day and night, but…

Yu Cheng’s expression darkened.

Ji Zhao, who had been observing her closely, asked, “…What’s wrong?”

Yu Cheng snapped out of her reverie. “Nothing. I just suddenly feel like riding.”

Ji Zhao squeezed Yu Cheng’s hand. “You’ll be able to ride soon.”

Yu Cheng’s fingertips trembled slightly, as if she had been transported back to the romantic atmosphere of last night. Her face flushed faintly as she murmured, “Let’s ride together.”

The audience must be wondering why we chose this method of advancing. Cheng Feiwan took the microphone from a staff member, her voice echoing across the grasslands. “I don’t know what the production team intended, but my interpretation is this: a woman can be anything she wants. She can love Barbie dolls or horses, pursue whatever she desires, and strive for any positive, upward-reaching freedom.”

“Some sights don’t need someone else to show you. You can see them yourself—like the view from a horseback.”

“I announce,” Cheng Feiwan stepped forward, her expression solemn and voice serious, “the second ranking announcement for Debut! Girls Season 4 is now beginning!”

“As you can see, there are only thirty-four horses behind me. This means that any trainee ranked lower than thirty-fourth will be immediately eliminated.”

Although the trainees were well aware of the program’s format, they still gasped collectively.

“This round of voting lasted two weeks and attracted over sixty million viewers. A total of 132,345,853 votes were cast.”

“Wow! Over a hundred million votes?”

“That many people?”

“Well, there are seventy-five trainees. The more people, the more votes.”

“I don’t think that’s it. The vote gap between the top and bottom groups is huge.”

“For now, let’s keep you in suspense,” Cheng Feiwan said with a smile. “We’ll announce the thirty-third-ranked trainee first, and save the lucky thirty-fourth for last.”

The trainees in the bottom group instantly tensed up.

 

This brutal format and cruel announcement method kept them on edge, yet also gave them hope. Zheng Dongqing, who had barely made it through the previous round, was naturally among those in suspense. She remained calm. “Honestly, just making it to this round feels like a victory. I’m deeply grateful to my fans for their support. Even if I don’t make it further, I have no regrets.”

Cheng Feiwan asked, “Is that really all?”

Zheng Dongqing froze.

How could she answer such a soul-searching question?

Before she could even think, Cheng Feiwan suddenly announced, “Congratulations to Zheng Dongqing! With 4,736,508 votes from the audience, you’ve advanced to 33rd place and successfully moved on!”

Zheng Dongqing: “!!!”

Song Jiangjiang rolled her hand into a megaphone. “Looks like someone’s dream of becoming a Young Miss is going down the drain!”

Zheng Dongqing: “……”

Her fans were truly amazing, always pushing her over the line at the last moment.

Zheng Dongqing’s victory speech set a good tone, easing the tense atmosphere on stage. Cheng Feiwan smiled. “Looks like Dongqing will be enduring some tough times on our show for a while longer.”

After announcing Zheng Dongqing, the remaining rankings were announced by group.

Five trainees at a time.

From 33rd to 29th.

Then from 28th to 24th.

One by one, the horses found their riders. The trainees, guided by staff, mounted their horses with varying degrees of confidence, excitement, or trepidation, the joy of advancing already beginning to fade.

“The Puppet Show” Group B:

Ding Yan advanced at 32nd place.

He Yumeng dropped to 27th.

Shao Ke, however, made a remarkable improvement, securing 24th place.

 

After this round of announcements, the remaining trainees in Group B of “The Puppet Show” abandoned any hope of advancing. They calmly accepted their elimination, but when they remembered that the ranking for the 34th place had yet to be announced, a faint glimmer of hope rekindled.

The ranking announcements continued.

The previously relaxed atmosphere grew tense again as the number of debut spots dwindled. The air thickened with anticipation, and some trainees with thinner emotional defenses began to sob softly. Their teammates wrapped comforting arms around them, silently waiting for the verdict.

Pei Jia had perhaps made the most remarkable improvement, leaping from 26th to 8th place, securing a spot in the top tier.

Holding the microphone and looking into the camera, her voice trembled slightly. “My dear fans, if I fall off my horse later, you’re not allowed to take back your votes! I—I’m a rising star of Timely Entertainment!”

She finished by blowing a kiss to the camera. “See you on the next stage!”

Only the debut spots remained unannounced.

By this point in the competition, the popularity gap between the top and bottom tiers had widened significantly. The higher a trainee ranked, the more stable their position became, with most only shifting by a couple of places within a small group.

Yet, in a surprising twist, Qiao Yue staged an incredible comeback, rising from 54th to 7th place—a greater improvement than Pei Jia’s. This propelled her directly into a debut spot.

Zhou Yuting stepped back to sixth place.

Shen Xin secured a spot in the top five.

Song Jiangjiang narrowly missed the top three, swapping places with Shen Yican. In her victory speech, she challenged her rival: “I’m letting you sit here this time, but I want my spot back next time.”

Shen Yican retorted mockingly in her own speech: “Do you even have any ambition? There’s still second place and the Center Position above third!”

Song Jiangjiang shot back from her horse: “I thought the same thing last round, and now I’m in fourth!”

Shen Yican: “……”

She’s threatening me!

Looking at Ji Zhaozhao and Yu Cheng, who remained in their original positions from the previous round, Ji Zhaozhao’s expression remained unchanged. Yu Cheng, however, stared intently at Cheng Feiwan, clearly eager to learn her new ranking.

Shen Yican handed the microphone back to Cheng Feiwan. “Let’s talk about climbing up a spot later. For now, I’m claiming my third-place throne.”

Song Jiangjiang: “……”

Hmph!

Cheng Feiwan chuckled and shook her head. “Now, I’ll announce the trainees who secured the Center Position and second place. Together, they received 56,498,651 votes from the audience.”

“Holy crap! Fifty million votes?!”

“That’s insane, even for two people!”

“Even if our whole company combined, we wouldn’t have that many!”

Cheng Feiwan drew out her words. “Who are they?”

The trainees answered in unison: “Ji Zhaozhao and Yu Cheng!”

Cheng Feiwan smiled knowingly. “Ji Zhaozhao! Yu Cheng!”

As if possessed by some sudden impulse, her mind tangled, her words tripping over themselves as she blurted out: “Please welcome our two new members!”

The trainees froze mid-clap, their hands hovering in mid-air: “?”

Yu Cheng and Ji Zhao, who had risen to leave, paused mid-step: “……?”

The director team: “…………”

Teacher Cheng, do you think you’re the master of ceremonies at a wedding?!