Her Majesty The Empress Has Made Her Debut In The Center Position [Ancient to Modern] - Chapter 42

[Yu Cheng and Ji Zhaozhao are confirmed as the best partner duo, and they’re performing the fans’ most twisted song recommendation. Yuzhao CP fans are in for a treat!]

[Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!]

[It’s not I Wanna Be Your Slave, is it? That song is beyond intense…]

[Ugh, if they perform this live, won’t they get all sweaty singing it? Is Yuzhao going to do it on stage…? How could the world endure such obscenity? (More please, I’m loving this)]

[I just listened to it… There’s a lyric that goes, “If you want to control me, I’ll be your puppet on a string.” Who gets it? Even though Yu Cheng is officially number one in Yuzhao, mentally, Zhaozhao is definitely number one. Those who don’t understand the contrast can go die!]

******

This reality show is really called “Come Out! Lesbians!” I just saw a post from next door saying Chen Xingzi and Shen Yican went to a private theater. I’ve been there before—it’s super professional, even has finger cots.

Isn’t that just too much?

I’m so jealous my eyes are bleeding… We Yuzhao CP fans are going to this “Extreme Sensory Experience” place, which sounds boring. Probably just some 4D exhibits with no chance for even a handhold.

Why did I end up with the haunted house gossip? A haunted house is an extreme sensory experience too, right?

Now I’m praying for the haunted house. I’d love to see Ji Zhaozhao shrink into Yu Cheng’s arms from fright… or vice versa. Either way, the two should be glued together with superglue.

If they’re going to a haunted house, we should probably worry about the ghosts…

Yu Cheng is the type who would rip apart any ghost that scared Zhaozhao. Production team, brace yourselves for lawsuits!

Heh heh, Yuzhao fans, stop dreaming. A haunted house? More like a science museum with a science communicator, guaranteed to leave you stone-cold sober!

Compared to the fans’ reluctance, Ji Zhao actually preferred the science museum.

Her gaze involuntarily lingered on the caricatures. Though the strokes were simple, the few lines conveyed immense information, capturing a vast array of poses—far more than she had ever seen in her past or present life.

She licked her dry lips, glanced at Follow PD, and gritted her teeth. “Is this what they mean by ‘extreme sensory experience’? Just… bedroom experiences?”

And what exactly did “extreme” mean? Was it just about looking? If there was anything else… wouldn’t that be illegal?

Follow PD was equally perplexed. Though his pupils dilated, he continued filming diligently. Unable to answer Ji Zhao’s question immediately and unsure of the production team’s intentions, he blurted out a half-thought response: “Maybe it’s about promoting sex education?”

Yu Cheng hesitated. “Won’t this get reported?”

She knew that online, there are always people eager to report anything that doesn’t fit their views. This museum had existed for so long without being reported, but now that it’s on TV, won’t it get reported?

Follow PD: “……”

Oh no, is this show doomed?

Perhaps it was the last day of the exhibition, but the staff member was so eager to talk that they just kept rambling on and on, completely ignoring whether anyone was listening. They talked from ancient times to the present, making the whole thing so boring that no one wanted to stay.

 

Just then, Follow PD’s phone rang.

She pulled it out. “It’s the Assistant Director.”

She swiped to answer, but before she could say anything, the Assistant Director’s voice came through: “Why aren’t you there yet? Is there traffic? The staff at the experience hall has been waiting for you for ages!”

Follow PD looked up in confusion. “Huh? We’re already here!”

“Where are you?!” the assistant director shouted. “Don’t tell me you went to the wrong building! It’s the second building across the street—the red sedan chair is right there when you step out of the elevator!”

“Red sedan chair?” the Follow PD asked. “Did you just see a red sedan chair?”

Ji Zhao and Yu Cheng shook their heads simultaneously.

A red sedan chair placed right at the elevator entrance was hard to miss unless you were blind.

“Damn it!” the Follow PD exclaimed. “We went to the wrong building!”

Ji Zhao: “……”

Why do I feel both relieved and disappointed?

The Follow PD said, “I’ll go ask the assistant director. Wait here for me.”

She hurried off, leaving Yu Cheng and Ji Zhao standing awkwardly with the staff member from the experience hall, staring at each other. After a moment, the staff member sighed regretfully. “So you weren’t here to visit us after all.”

Ji Zhao asked, “Is the hall closing tomorrow?”

“Yes,” the staff member replied.

Yu Cheng’s heart stirred. “You…”

Ji Zhao said, “Well, she won’t be back anytime soon, so let’s go check out the exhibit first. But…” she declined the staff member’s offer to give them a guided tour. “We’ll just look around on our own.”

 

After the staff member left, Ji Zhao finally sighed in relief. Looking at the display wall, she winced. “This is way too… explicit!”

Perhaps because they were two young women, the staff member had assumed they were a couple and led them to the LGBTQ+ section. As they walked past the small figurines, the transparent glass cases displayed all sorts of props—there seemed to be nothing these two hadn’t thought of that the museum hadn’t already exhibited.

“Is this the ‘I wanna be your sex toy’ thing from our song?” Yu Cheng pointed to one of the props. “Why’s there a little hole on it that looks like a mouth—”

Her words cut off abruptly, as if she’d been physically silenced.

Ji Zhao gave her a curious look. “What’s wrong?”

Yu Cheng’s eyes darted around. “N-nothing.”

“So why is it shaped like that?” Ji Zhao asked.

She gasped again. “There’s a description here: ‘The slight curve provides a perfect fit, multiple settings to meet your needs, suction… suction…'”

A sudden realization struck her, the cartoon she’d just seen flashing through her mind. Her face flushed crimson.

Her gaze wandered. “It’s… it’s pretty high-tech.”

Yu Cheng murmured a distracted agreement, the tips of her ears red as blood, hidden in the dim lighting of the exhibition hall. Her heart raced in time with the seductive background music.

Though her mind was racing, she clearly heard the lyrics:

Love boldly, love the illusion of love.

Be coy, be bewitched by the reckless dream.

The more you panic, the more you want.

The more you itch, the more you burn.

 

Yu Cheng felt like she was about to explode.

Unbidden images flooded her mind, sending electric shivers through her. She wanted to flee, yet also wanted to stay forever, pacing step by step behind Your Majesty, keeping just the right distance—was she protecting him, or was the distance protecting him?

Ji Zhao’s heart raced, pounding in her chest. The air in the venue seemed to grow increasingly stifling, making it hard for her to breathe. Suddenly, voices drifted from the entrance.

The dim lighting made it hard to see clearly, but she could make out two long-haired girls—one tall, one short—standing very close together, their movements intimate.

They were probably a couple, showing no embarrassment as they examined the exhibits. Instead, they began whispering, their voices so soft they would have been inaudible to anyone else. But Ji Zhao and Yu Cheng, both with exceptionally keen hearing, caught every word.

“I’m kind of tempted to try this. It’s all the rage online right now, and everyone’s raving about the experience.”

“Really? Last time you wanted to try wax play, you were in tears after just one drop. It took ages to calm you down. Don’t tell me you’ll be begging for mercy after two minutes with this.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

“Sorry, sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for?”

“You lasted two minutes? More like half a minute before you were a gushing fountain.”

Ji Zhao: “……”

Yu Cheng: “……”

They desperately wanted to stop listening, but they couldn’t help themselves.

“Isn’t this supposed to be a sensory experience?”

“Right, eyes and ears are part of our senses too.”

“I was expecting a more intense sensory experience.”

“Please, my dear, if you’re hoping we’ll go get a room right now, don’t count on this place.”

“You’re addicted, aren’t you?”

“Mm-hmm, addicted to you.”

Ji Zhao: “!!!”

Yu Cheng took a quick step forward, grabbed Ji Zhao’s wrist, and whispered, “Follow PD should be back soon. Let’s go outside and wait for her.” Without waiting for Ji Zhao’s agreement, she pulled her out of the room.

Ji Zhao stumbled, calling out softly, “Yu Cheng!”

They left the exhibition hall, passed through the corridor, and finally felt a sense of relief. The fleeting, flirtatious thoughts vanished like smoke under the bright light. Yu Cheng’s clenched fists relaxed just as Follow PD hurried back.

“I confirmed it. We can get around through the sky bridge. Let’s go.” Follow PD turned on the camera. “This part will probably be cut anyway. They’ll only air the bloopers of us going the wrong way. Don’t worry, no one will know you were here.”

Yu Cheng nodded absentmindedly.

Turning to meet Ji Zhao’s slightly reproachful gaze, she said, “Let go.”

Yu Cheng released her grip.

Ji Zhao straightened her sleeve. “That’s improper.”

Yu Cheng murmured, “I just think those remarks were… too inappropriate.”

“Where’s the harm in saying that?” Ji Zhao lowered her voice. “Are you the one they’re talking about, the one with excessive shame? It’s the 21st century—be bold and open!”

“…Yes,” Yu Cheng replied.

After “educating” her, Ji Zhao felt a pang of unease. “Let’s hurry and get out of here.”

Yu Cheng nodded in agreement.

 

The two buildings, developed by the same company, were connected by an aerial corridor despite being separated by a pedestrian street. As they stepped through the corridor, they immediately spotted a red sedan chair at the elevator entrance on the other side.

It wasn’t just the sedan chair. The entire floor was draped in silk banners and red lanterns—the kind used in traditional weddings. What should have been a joyous scene felt eerie under the dim lighting and unsettling music.

A chill crawled up from the soles of their feet, piercing straight through their skulls.

Ji Zhao turned to leave immediately.

[ Follow PD: ] “Yu Cheng, go after her!”

Yu Cheng reacted swiftly, instinctively grabbing Ji Zhao’s wrist. But instead of pulling her back, Ji Zhao dragged her to the corridor entrance. She glanced inside with a cryptic expression. “This place feels ominous.”

Yu Cheng nodded in agreement. “More than one person has died here in vain.”

Ji Zhao: “……”

She pursed her lips. “It’s easy for evil spirits to linger here.”

Yu Cheng: “Then we’re not filming.”

Follow PD: “……”

She hadn’t understood the earlier exchange, but the last line was clear enough: “That’s not how you’re supposed to persuade her to go in!”

Still, this could all be considered part of the show’s drama, so Follow PD didn’t intervene, calmly holding the camera to film Yu Cheng and Ji Zhao as they tugged at each other.

“We have to film, even if we don’t want to,” Ji Zhao said. “How can you catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger’s den?”

“Since ancient times, who among us escapes death!”

Follow PD: “……”

Is that how those lines are supposed to be used?!

Ji Zhao took a step forward. “I’m a true-born heavenly maiden, blessed with righteous energy. This place means nothing to me.” She shielded Yu Cheng behind her. “Stay behind me.”

To ease her nerves, Ji Zhao checked in with the other trainees before going inside.

 

Follow PD told her that Song Jiangjiang and Qiao Yue had gone to the Botanical Garden, but the garden also had animals. The peacocks in the Peacock Garden had fanned their tails the moment they saw Song Jiangjiang, and the incident had already been captured by bystanders and was going viral on WeChat groups.

Meanwhile, Shen Yican and Chen Xingzi were watching a movie in a private theater. Ten minutes into the film, Chen Xingzi had already fallen asleep three times, each time being poked awake by Shen Yican. Now the production team was preparing to establish a new trope for them—lesbian hate.

Shen Xin and Zhou Yuting weren’t actually close, but they couldn’t help but hit it off due to Shen Xin’s dark humor, which Zhou Yuting loved. Their witty banter was guaranteed to attract a wave of CP fans when broadcast.

Qian Xingxing and Li Yunyue had gone to the planetarium. The production team planned to have them reenact La La Land, focusing on the tragic beauty of unrequited love.

Ji Zhao silently listened for a while before Follow PD reminded her, “Every team is progressing smoothly. We’ve already wasted enough time because we took a wrong turn. Zhaozhao, let’s stop dawdling.”

Her stalling tactic exposed, Ji Zhao showed no embarrassment. Clearing her throat, she stood before the escape room entrance, hands clasped behind her back.

The double doors of the traditional Chinese mansion were inscribed with the characters “Prince’s Manor” in calligraphy. Droplets of crimson, like blood, dripped from each stroke, splattering onto the steps below.

A painting of a spring wedding procession adorned the screen opposite the door. The ornate sedan chair swayed through the mountainous bloom, but upon closer inspection, countless eyes seemed to peer from the flowers, making the scene distinctly unsettling.

Ji Zhao looked up, her voice resigned. “Let’s go.”

This type of haunted house was also a room escape game, with a new theme each season, catering to high-end, customized experiences. The production team had rented the entire place for the day, leaving only Yu Cheng, Ji Zhao, and Follow PD inside.

 

As soon as they entered, an NPC attendant greeted them, explaining that the Prince’s Manor was holding a wedding today—a grand celebration. He invited the guests to rest in the West Wing, strictly warning them against entering the East Wing, lest they offend the newlyweds.

“Got it,” Ji Zhao said. “So we have to go to the East Wing.”

The NPC, clearly dedicated to their role, chuckled awkwardly. “Even as esteemed guests of the manor, you must abide by our rules. Offending the newlyweds invites misfortune, and the manor will not be held responsible for any consequences.”

Ji Zhao wanted to ask him something else, but he had already vanished.

When she looked up again, they had already arrived at the West Wing.

Since this wasn’t a real location, just separated from the East Wing by a corridor, Yu Cheng asked, “Shall we go straight in?”

“Not yet,” Ji Zhao replied.

She pushed open the West Wing door. “Since this is a puzzle, there must be clues here.”

She shot the camera a pointed glare. “Tell me, what does this have to do with Extreme Sensory?”

The West Wing was simply furnished, with a bed, table, and chairs that looked real enough to sit on. As soon as they entered, the door locked itself, requiring them to find the key to escape.

Since they were already here, Ji Zhao and Yu Cheng began searching. They flipped through paintings, notices, and daily journals to piece together the story’s background.

It turned out that the Eldest Young Master Wang, who was supposed to marry, had been sickly since childhood. Every renowned physician declared he wouldn’t live past twenty. True to the predictions, he passed away before reaching that age.

“Why marry him after he’s dead?” Yu Cheng frowned. “Is she supposed to be his burial offering?”

A shudder ran through her. “…No way!”

Ji Zhao nodded grimly. “That’s exactly it.”

The bride, Xue Huan, was the daughter of a stonemason. At the tender age of fifteen, she had been kidnapped on her way home to become a ghost bride. Her fate was to be married to the corpse of the Eldest Young Master Wang before being buried alive.

This wasn’t the first time the Wang family had resorted to such a practice. It was said that the vengeful spirits of previous victims frequently haunted the family, forcing them to be meticulous in their preparations.

Xue Huan was in the East Wing.

Piecing together the clues to unravel the story and ultimately escape the locked room—this type of experience engaged every sense in the body. It was truly deserving of the name “Extreme Sensory Experience Museum.”

Ji Zhao was speechless. “My review is that it’s not as good as the previous one.”

Yu Cheng hummed in acknowledgment, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

“In a feudal patriarchal society, men devour women, society devours women, institutions devour women, and even women devour women,” Ji Zhao murmured. “We can save Xue Huan, but there are countless others like her waiting to be rescued.”

“Should we even bother saving them?”

“Absolutely! As women, helping another woman is as natural as breathing—it’s something we must do as long as we live.” Ji Zhao stood up. The double doors were slightly ajar, and the lock hung on the frame. She glanced at it and asked Yu Cheng, “Can you pry it open?”

 

The Follow PD, whose eyes had reddened with emotion at Ji Zhao’s speech, now stood bewildered. “…?”

Huh? What? How could Yu Cheng possibly…?! This is ridiculous! What kind of shoddy work is the props team doing?!

Yu Cheng clapped her hands and stepped aside to clear a path. “Let’s go.”

Ji Zhao led the way out.

As for how they later found Xue Huan, gathered the NPC ghost girls who had been creating the eerie atmosphere, and conducted a “girls helping girls” session that ultimately spurred the NPCs to rebel and smash open the backyard gate to escape, the Follow PD could only say: “Fans of escape room shows are in for a treat.”

This was no simple, easily-cuttable business procedure. It was worthy of being made into a full-length bonus feature to be presented to fans as a special treat.

It might even go down in reality show history, spreading across all platforms and eventually being recorded in the annals.

Meanwhile, Ji Zhao and Yu Cheng, the creators of this legendary scene, were cheerfully posing for photos, signing autographs, and exchanging tearful farewells with the NPC girls.

The NPCs were the ones who were truly reluctant to part. Their makeup was eerily realistic, yet tears streamed down their faces as they spoke in authentic Henan dialect: “Where’s my phone?! Vote, vote! I need to vote for Yu Cheng and Ji Zhaozhao!”

That’s a story for another time.

Ji Zhao and Yu Cheng had successfully completed their mission and thought they were about to be driven back to the estate. But instead, the production team took them to a luxury foot spa. “It’s all part of the sensory experience!” they explained.

Ji Zhao found the Follow PD’s smile particularly insincere and hesitated to go inside. “Is this another escape room? A foot spa scenario? A hot spring scenario? Or a hot spring foot spa scenario?”

Follow PD: “……”

That’s how trust between people disappears!

Only after the receptionist led them to change into more comfortable clothes and escorted them into a luxurious VIP room did Ji Zhao finally let her heart sink back into her chest.

The foot spa chairs were electric, and although it was a double room, it was so spacious it felt like a deluxe suite. Beyond the glass balcony doors lay a hot spring at a comfortable temperature, invitingly soothing to the touch.

After filming the empty shots, the Follow PD retreated to a corner.

Ji Zhao lay on the sofa, casually flipping through the menu. When she saw they offered hot pot, her eyes lit up. “So this is a buffet!”

“Just a moment,” Follow PD said. “To order food, you have to complete a task.”

Ji Zhao thought, I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. She turned to face the camera, crossing her legs. “Bring on any task! Nothing can stop me from eating hot pot!”

The task was simple yet difficult.

One person would blindfold themselves and massage the other. Whether the massage was light or heavy, the person being massaged couldn’t make a sound. If they did, a dish would be deducted.

It was simple for Yu Cheng, who wasn’t ticklish.

But it was difficult for Ji Zhao, who was.

Ji Zhao complained that the show was being too stingy, making them complete a task just to eat. Why not hire a professional foot masseuse instead of making Yu Cheng do it? What if Yu Cheng didn’t know her own strength and hurt her?

Yu Cheng reassured her, “I’ll be gentle. I won’t hurt you.”

After her experience at the x Love Pavilion, Ji Zhao was no longer as innocent as before. Yu Cheng’s words felt strange to her, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. Hesitantly, she threatened in a small voice, “If you hurt me, I’ll make you pay.”

Yu Cheng took the leather blindfold. “How would I dare?”

Ji Zhao thought the same. Even if Yu Cheng were ten times braver, she wouldn’t dare hurt her. If she did, Ji Zhao would…

Before she could finish the thought, Yu Cheng’s hand had already landed on her ankle. She instinctively jerked back, but Yu Cheng pulled her back. “Don’t move,” Yu Cheng murmured.

The cold leather blindfold pressed against her porcelain skin, her slightly parted red lips giving her an austere, untouchable beauty.

Ji Zhao froze.

She wanted to say, “Yu Cheng, how dare you speak to me like that!” She wanted to shake off Yu Cheng’s hand, or even scream. But the commands never reached her limbs, and she stood frozen as Yu Cheng’s hand moved over her.

Cupping, kneading, moving upward.

Ji Zhao shrank slightly. “It tickles…”

Her voice was soft and hesitant, like a plea for mercy or a coy tease. A single word was enough to make Yu Cheng’s breathing grow ragged. The song she had heard earlier echoed in her mind once more.

The more flustered she grew, the more she panicked; the more she scratched, the itchier it became.

Yu Cheng’s throat tightened.

Her hands, losing all restraint, gripped Ji Zhao’s waist. The sudden movement startled Ji Zhao, who gasped and quickly covered her mouth, hissing, “Yu Cheng!”

“Are you okay?” Yu Cheng withdrew her hand and hurriedly moved to remove the blindfold. “Let me see—”

“Don’t take it off!” Ji Zhao pressed her hand down. “If we remove the blindfold, we lose.” Her hand slid down Yu Cheng’s arm, taking hold of her fingers and guiding them back to her waist. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

The waist beneath her fingers was slender, almost delicate, as if it might break with the slightest pressure.

Yu Cheng’s voice turned husky. “I’m afraid I’ll hurt you.”

Ji Zhao leaned back against the soft chair, completely unguarded. She closed her eyes. “It doesn’t hurt. Even if it did, it would be perfect for our song.”

That line.

I wanna touch your body

I crave your touch

So fucking electric

Like being electrified

I’ve heard that when adrenaline surges, it feels like an electric shock.

Extreme love, extreme sensory experience, extreme lust and obsession that feels like bones being torn apart, extreme possessiveness—that’s what this song is trying to express.

It’ll make you hungry, and I’ll satisfy you.