Her Majesty The Empress Has Made Her Debut In The Center Position [Ancient to Modern] - Chapter 41.1

Night fell.

The silence after the frenzy was scattered by the long, howling winds of the grasslands, their mournful cries sending shivers down spines.

Some timid trainees pressed their rocks firmly into the ground, then buried their heads under their blankets and earplugs and fell asleep. Others, unable to sleep, tossed and turned, staying up late chatting with their roommates to pass the time. And then there were the diligent ones, who took advantage of having their phones and internet to open dance tutorial apps—only to be caught by their neighbors from the next tent.

“Who’s that? Who’s overworking themselves next door? I can even see your graceful silhouette through the wall, like you’re projected on a screen!”

“……”

With limited facilities, bathing had to be simple, done in the production team’s rented RV. Ji Zhao pinned up her long hair, took out the professional book Ji Lin had given her from her bag, and began reading by the lamp.

When Yu Cheng returned, she was already sitting up, taking notes.

Hearing the sound, she didn’t even look up. “Back already?”

 

The Assistant Director had called Yu Cheng to the director’s group for some reason. It had been half an hour already. Hearing no response, she hummed in confusion and looked up. “Why aren’t you talking?”

Yu Cheng said softly, “I thought you were asleep.”

“How could I sleep with you not back?” Ji Zhao asked. “What did the Assistant Director want with you? You’ve been gone for so long.”

Yu Cheng took off her shoes. “He said Yu Wangmeng wants to shoot an ad with me.”

Ji Zhao: “Why didn’t he ask you himself?”

Yu Cheng: “I didn’t respond.”

Ji Zhao hummed thoughtfully.

Yu Cheng said, “I refused.”

Ji Zhao pondered for a moment. “Good. Yu Wangmeng is doomed to fall eventually. The farther away you stay from him, the better.” As she spoke, she looked deeply into Yu Cheng’s eyes, making Yu Cheng’s heart skip a beat. She sighed. “I wonder if the Yu Cheng from before will be as decisive as you when she returns.”

The Yu Cheng from before…

Yu Cheng’s eyes darkened. “Do you like that kind of personality?”

“Hmm?” Ji Zhao asked.

“Never mind.” Yu Cheng avoided her gaze.

Ji Zhao slowly set down her book. “You’ve been acting really strange today.” Her voice softened. “Did I do something to hurt you while I was drunk? Tell me.”

Yu Cheng composed herself and smiled. “How could Your Majesty possibly hurt me?”

“How couldn’t I?” Ji Zhao replied. “No one is perfect. Everyone has their own personality and habits. Maybe something I thought was harmless really bothered you?”

She paused. “Did I mention that I broke your treasured sword?”

Yu Cheng froze momentarily before raising her voice. “My sword was indeed switched! And it was you, Your Majesty, who did it!”

“What’s the big deal?” Ji Zhao retorted, wearing a defiant, resigned expression. “I made a mistake. Besides, didn’t I summon you to the palace and lock you in there just to give you a new one? A better one than the one you had before!”

 

Yu Cheng was momentarily speechless. “I…”

Ji Zhao leaned closer. “Well?”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s kindness,” Yu Cheng finally managed.

Ji Zhao chuckled, tugging on Yu Cheng’s sleeve. “If you don’t like Yu Wangmeng, I can make sure he never dares to bother you again. But you must never ignore me, Yu Cheng.”

“And if I do?” Yu Cheng asked. “Will you exterminate my entire clan?”

“How dare I?” Ji Zhao sighed dramatically, collapsing onto the bed in a sprawled position. She stared listlessly at the ceiling. “I’ll just starve myself to death!”

Yu Cheng panicked. “You mustn’t!”

Ji Zhao glanced at her. “Why not?”

“Your Majesty shouldn’t punish yourself for my sake,” Yu Cheng said earnestly.

Ji Zhao remained silent.

“…It would break my heart,” Yu Cheng added softly.

Ji Zhao finally smiled triumphantly, sitting up and hugging Yu Cheng’s arm again. “I just knew my Grand General Yu was the best.”

If I’d known earlier, I would have acted spoiled sooner. There wouldn’t have been any need for Song Jiangjiang to step in.

 

In the neighboring yurt, Song Jiangjiang, already asleep, sneezed loudly. Unnoticed by her, Shen Yican slipped out of the room. Outside, Chen Xingzi waited, bundled in a down jacket. When Shen Yican emerged, Chen Xingzi hmphed. “What were you dawdling for?!”

Shen Yican avoided her gaze. “I was tucking Song Jiangjiang in.”

Chen Xingzi’s eyes widened slightly.

Then Shen Yican suddenly grinned. “Just teasing you.”

Chen Xingzi tightened her jacket and stomped off, huffing. “Honestly, I can’t stand you! You refuse to eat when you should, then demand noodles when you shouldn’t. Where am I supposed to get noodles out here?!”

As the moon sank in the west and the stars faded into the dark blue sky, the night grew still.

Ji Zhao was still reading. Her schedule was too tight, and there was too much to do. She had to use every spare moment to absorb knowledge, flipping page after page as the seconds ticked by.

Beside her, Yu Cheng had already fallen asleep.

She dreamed.

In the dream, she released a sky lantern on her eighteenth birthday. As it slowly ascended, carrying her courage and fear, she heard someone call her name at the dream’s end. She turned her head.

The rider galloping toward them was none other than Her Majesty herself.

 

The next morning, rain fell.

The grassland rain came suddenly and in fine drizzles, forcing the postponement of the filming schedule. The trainees opened their doors and sat outside, watching the rain and whispering among themselves, the atmosphere somewhat subdued.

It’s unclear who started it, but when someone mentioned their dream from the previous night, the conversation picked up, and the mood brightened.

“To be perfectly honest, I really cried myself to sleep last night. It was all because they told me I could finally sleep in, and I got all jealous and teary.”

“I dreamed I was abandoned by my best partner, and the haters called me an orphan of the entertainment industry…”

“Seriously, stop saying things you can’t actually say on air!”

“Ouch, Pei Jia! I had no idea until I slept with you, but you talk in your sleep! And not just normal sleep-talking—reciting a whole menu! It made me so hungry I couldn’t sleep!”

“Correction: We were just lying on the same bed, sleeping normally. Don’t make it sound so dramatic!”

Ji Zhao listened to their chatter while brushing her teeth. The rhythmic pitter-patter of raindrops on the yurt’s roof created a soothing, hypnotic melody. She yawned, and Yu Cheng handed her a toothbrush cup. “What time did you finally fall asleep?”

Ji Zhao shook her head. “I don’t remember. I just fell asleep when I got tired.”

She hadn’t even turned off the light.

“But what did you dream about last night?” Ji Zhao asked Yu Cheng after rinsing her mouth and wiping her lips. “You actually laughed out loud.”

Yu Cheng flushed. “Did I laugh?”

Ji Zhao nodded. “You did. Did you dream about striking it rich?”

Yu Cheng recalled her hazy dream: Her Majesty galloping toward her, throwing herself into her arms. Overwhelmed by emotion, she kissed her passionately and reached out to touch her body… Stop! I can’t think about that anymore!

Ji Zhao looked at her curiously. “Why is your face so red?”

Yu Cheng composed herself. “It’s a little warm in here.”

Ji Zhao glanced outside. “…Is it?”

“It is.”

“You young ones get so easily flustered.”

Yu Cheng: “……”

She really couldn’t think about that anymore.

 

The grassland rain came and went quickly. In less than half an hour, the downpour subsided, and the production team announced free time. The trainees were free to move about, and anyone with free time was encouraged to go to the Director’s designated archery range.

Archery scores were recorded, with each person getting three attempts. As for what the scores were for, that would be revealed later.

Assuming it wasn’t a big deal, the trainees relaxed. They busied themselves with makeup, changing clothes, taking photos, and sightseeing. Some even checked their scores, proudly declaring, “At least I’m not dead last!”

Only Qiao Yue couldn’t smile.

During breakfast, Ji Zhao asked, “Why?”

Song Jiangjiang lifted her noodles. “Because she’s dead last.”

Qiao Yue: “……”

Ji Zhao finished her last sip of soup. “I’ll try.”

Before Yu Cheng could react, Ji Zhao added, “Yu Cheng, finish your breakfast.”

Yu Cheng paused mid-motion with her chopsticks. “…… Oh.”

After Ji Zhao left, Song Jiangjiang chided, “Have you forgotten everything I taught you?”

She expected Yu Cheng to feel ashamed, but instead, Yu Cheng replied calmly, “I can’t… I can’t refuse her.”

Song Jiangjiang sighed. “So it’s true: whoever falls in love first dies first!”

Yu Cheng frowned. “Die?”

Qiao Yue leaned over. “What are you talking about?”

Song Jiangjiang manually turned her face away. “Children shouldn’t butt into grown-up matters.”

But Qiao Yue wasn’t about to give up. This was her first time playing matchmaker, and she’d even stayed up late last night boosting the Yuzhao CP’s fan forum posts with all her heart and soul. If this match fell through, she’d literally cough up blood.

Song Jiangjiang put on a serious face. “It seems this approach won’t work. I’ll have to use my ultimate move.”

Yu Cheng asked, “What ultimate move?”

Song Jiangjiang snapped her fingers. “Release your charm.”

“…How do I do that?”

“We have a perfect opportunity right in front of us.”

“?”

Song Jiangjiang raised an eyebrow at Yu Cheng, leaving everything unsaid between them. But to Qiao Yue, the scene looked entirely different. She eyed Song Jiangjiang suspiciously. “Are you trying to break up you and Zhaozhao so you can pair up with Yu Cheng instead? You have ulterior motives!”

Song Jiangjiang: “……”

Why is matchmaking so fraught with obstacles?!

 

The “perfect opportunity” Song Jiangjiang referred to was archery.

While Yu Cheng was practicing archery, Song Jiangjiang found an excuse to bring Ji Zhao to the scene. Then she exclaimed dramatically, “Yu Cheng’s posture is perfect! Isn’t that a dead ten-ring shot?”

Ji Zhao gave Song Jiangjiang a puzzled look before following her gaze. Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

Yu Cheng was wearing the production team’s uniform: a fitted pink blazer, a pink pleated skirt that accentuated her long, straight, and fair legs, black leather shoes, and her hair fluttering in the breeze. Her profile was clean and elegant, her lips pressed slightly together, exuding a striking and captivating aura that drew all eyes.

Moments later, Yu Cheng lifted her bow, nocked an arrow, and drew the string taut with practiced ease.

Even Song Jiangjiang was stunned. “Holy crap!”

Was it really that dramatic? She had only asked Yu Cheng to put on a show—scores didn’t matter; what mattered was looking beautiful and captivating. But Yu Cheng’s stance was… too—

Before she could finish the thought, the arrow had already left the string, piercing the target with swift force.

A staff member rushed over, checked the shot, and shouted, “Yu Cheng! Ten ring!”

“Holy crap!” Song Jiangjiang repeated.

Yu Cheng remained humble, her expression unchanged as she picked up another arrow. Surprisingly, she grabbed two this time. A staff member approached to inquire about her actions. After understanding her reasoning, they reluctantly let her proceed.

Song Jiangjiang asked, “What did she say?”

The staff member glanced at Ji Zhao. “Yu-sensei said that Season-sensei is waiting for her, and she’s in a hurry.”

Song Jiangjiang: “……”

Love-struck fool!

Ji Zhao chuckled inwardly.

Song Jiangjiang struggled to find the right words. “Yu Cheng is so good to you… Don’t you…?”

Don’t you realize anything?!

Ji Zhao replied calmly, “Of course.”

She’s the Emperor, and Yu Cheng is her subject. How could Yu Cheng treat her poorly?

 

Unaware of Ji Zhao’s thoughts, Song Jiangjiang pressed further. “Don’t you think she’s being a little… excessive? No one treats a friend like that!”

She emphasized the word “friend” heavily. “Think about it. Really think about it.”

Ji Zhao pondered for a moment, then agreed. “Yu Cheng’s kindness towards me certainly isn’t that of a friend.”

Song Jiangjiang: “Exactly!”

Ji Zhao: “It’s the affection between a superior and subordinate.”

Song Jiangjiang: “……”

Do all you girls enjoy playing these kinds of games?

Yu Cheng hit three perfect tens in a row, securing first place as expected. Shen Yican, who had worked part-time at an archery range and practiced when no customers were around, shot well but settled for second. Ji Zhaozhao took third, having insisted on shooting blindfolded on a whim. She shot one arrow into the sky, another for a perfect ten, and the last for an eight, barely clinging to third place.

Yu Cheng glanced at Ji Zhao’s scores, clearly unimpressed. “Your Majesty, were you aiming for that?”

Ji Zhao, who was winding her hair into a bun with a hairpin, paused mid-motion at Yu Cheng’s tone. “What do you mean?” she asked with a smile. “I’m no good at shooting blindfolded.”

“What about the last two arrows?” Yu Cheng pressed.

Ji Zhao rolled her eyes. “Sometimes I miss the old days when you were a little dumber.”

“…Your Majesty finds this subject’s ignorance distasteful?” Yu Cheng retorted.

“I never said that,” Ji Zhao said.

She finished arranging her hair and whispered, “With our archery skills this good, we’re bound to attract attention. Everyone knows how skilled you are in martial arts, so even if I missed a shot, it wouldn’t affect our overall score.”

“Besides,” Ji Zhao added, “my archery skills aren’t as good as yours to begin with.”

 

As they spoke, Cheng Feiwan had already walked over. Drops of water splashed from the wet grass onto her skirt, but she paid no mind, greeting everyone with boundless energy: “Good morning, everyone!”

“Good morning, Teacher Cheng!”

“Did you enjoy yourselves last night?”

“Yes!”

“I saw the videos online and was so jealous!” Cheng Feiwan said. “If I hadn’t had plans last night, I would have stayed and had some fun too.”

Her tone shifted to business. “Alright, time’s a-wasting. Did you like the yurts last night?”

Hearing the affirmative responses, Cheng Feiwan smiled. “Well, the yurts have been packed away now. Instead, we have seventeen small tents behind this curtain behind me.”

“Seventeen tents, seventeen teams—chosen by your fans.”

“Now, I’ll announce the fourth theme task of Debut! Girl Season 4—” Cheng Feiwan turned, and four large characters appeared on the curtain behind her: “Best Partners!”

As the name suggests, “Best Partners” refers to the most compatible duos.

Of course, compatibility is in the eyes of the fans.

In the eyes of everyone else, this was just a fan service stage designed to cater to shipping frenzies. The more CP fans a pairing had, the higher their chances of being grouped together. So the real suspense wasn’t the pairing assignments, but the song choices.

Cheng Feiwan said, “These seventeen tents contain songs selected by your fans. Now, enter in order of your archery competition rankings and wait for your partner!”

All eyes turned to Yu Cheng.

Yu Cheng stood up, walked to Cheng Feiwan, and took an envelope from her. She opened it, glanced at the contents, and nodded at Cheng Feiwan. “Then I’ll head in first.”

The trainees panicked. “What does it say? Is there a song choice? Satisfy our curiosity before you leave!”

Yu Cheng pursed her lips, then suddenly smiled. “I won’t tell you.”

The trainees cried out, “Unfair!”

Yu Cheng gave a slight bow to Cheng Feiwan, then walked toward the end of the curtain. Just as she was about to leave, she stopped and turned to look at Ji Zhao. “Zhaozhao!”

Ji Zhao had been watching her the whole time. “Hm?”

Yu Cheng: “Waiting for you.”

Ji Zhao smiled. “Waiting for me.”

Cheng Feiwan: “?”

These trainees are getting really good at putting on a show! Each generation is better than the last!

The trainees were a mix of annoyed, speechless, and disheartened.

“Are they actually selling themselves so openly now? The worst part is… I actually ship them…”

“What if they don’t end up in the same group? Wouldn’t that make this whole act pointless?”

“Before I get eliminated, will I even get to be in a group with Zhaozhao?”

Song Jiangjiang, on the other hand, had given up trying to understand their relationship and had become disillusioned. “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form…”

Qiao Yue asked, “What are you muttering about?”

Song Jiangjiang looked off into the distance. “Never play matchmaker, especially when the two are already secretly dating!”

Qiao Yue: “……”

I don’t get it, but it feels like Jiangjiang has grown up.

Shen Yican was the second to enter. She didn’t even look back as she went in, leaving everyone to turn their expectant gazes to Ji Zhao. Ji Zhao took the envelope from Cheng Feiwan and glanced at it.

What’s the point of this? It’s just the tent number. Why all the mystery?

Song Jiangjiang shouted, “What does it say?! Give us a hint!”

Ji Zhao smiled at her and asked, “What’s your ranking?”

 

It was best not to mention it. The moment Song Jiangjiang heard about the archery competition, she was overcome with sorrow. She’d thought no one took it seriously and had shot wildly for dramatic effect. Her arrows landed everywhere—on the ground, in the air, even on the railing—but not a single one hit the target. She’d ranked dead last.

“You’re the kind of person who claims they failed the exam, but it turns out I was the only one who actually didn’t pass!” Song Jiangjiang accused.

Ji Zhao chuckled. “Alright.”

She waved the envelope in her hand. “Well, you can keep the suspense until the very end, then!”

“This good fortune is yours to take or leave!” Song Jiangjiang declared.

But Ji Zhao had already slipped away.

Seventeen tents were scattered behind the stage, each door tightly shut. Follow PD trailed her as she surveyed the scene. “You can’t tell which one has someone inside.”

“My number is twelve,” she said to the camera. “Did you guys also vote for Yu Cheng to be in tent twelve?”

She sauntered over to tent twelve.

Leaning down, she knocked. “Hello? Is anyone there?”

No response.

“Hmm,” Ji Zhao said, puzzled. “No one?”

She squatted down and found the tent’s zipper. Slowly, she pulled it open, and the interior came into view, inch by inch. It was definitely empty. “Yu Cheng?”

She quickly zipped up the tent flap, stuck her head inside, and before she could even look around properly, someone grabbed her wrist.

Ji Zhao yelped as she was yanked into the tent, falling into Yu Cheng’s arms.

Follow PD lovingly recorded the scene.

 

Later, when the segment aired, the production team used cross-cutting editing, alternating between footage of Yu Cheng waiting inside the tent and Ji Zhaozhao outside, until they finally reunited. The visuals suddenly turned dreamy.

The live comments were naturally hilarious:

[Lifting the veil on their wedding night… OMG, a wedding omen! Why wasn’t I invited?!]

[I’ve said it so many times! Yu Cheng is 1! Yu Cheng is 1!]

[Who said 1 can’t get married?! Can’t a 1 be a bride?!?]

[Help! Yu Cheng was so cute and nervous waiting for her wife, but I missed the voting deadline! All the voters were my aunts! Love you all…]

[Ji Zhaozhao was clearly nervous, wasn’t she? She was terrified that no one would be inside the tent, or worse, someone else!]

[Shen Yican: Just give them my ID number already!]

******

Heh, something must have happened after Yu Cheng hugged Zhaozhao. The production team better release that footage! How could we go from hugging to listening to music together in the next second?! (Sneakily infiltrate the estate) (Spot a beauty) (Whistle) (Remember the main task) (Go back into hiding) (See the kiss coming) (Scream) (Get caught) (Make a hasty escape)