Her Majesty The Empress Has Made Her Debut In The Center Position [Ancient to Modern] - Chapter 43

Under Yu Cheng’s unskilled kneading, Ji Zhao’s composure finally cracked when Yu Cheng leaned closer, her slightly heated breaths reaching her ears. She gasped involuntarily.

Yu Cheng covered her mouth.

Yu Cheng pinched her arm. “Don’t make a sound.”

Ji Zhao bit her lip, tilting her head back to swallow her moans. Every place Yu Cheng touched felt like it had been brushed by fire, making her want to flee, but there was nowhere to escape.

Even when the Follow PD called “time’s up,” her mind was still drifting, continuously falling…

Falling back to the beginning.

She heard Yu Cheng ask, “Does it hurt anywhere?”

Ji Zhao shook her head, silently grateful for the dim lighting and the camera’s inability to capture her flushed face. She hurriedly climbed off the electric sofa. “It’s your turn now.”

Yu Cheng removed her blindfold and obediently lay down.

Ji Zhao put on her blindfold, calmed herself down, and rubbed her hands together. “I used to learn massage from someone before. My skills are pretty good, you know!”

 

The Grand Tutor had once suffered from cervical problems and invited a wandering physician to the palace for massage therapy. Ji Zhao had picked up a few techniques during that time. Unfortunately, after the physician left, all the palace maids refused her requests, terrified and insisting they weren’t worthy of having the Emperor massage them. Left without an opportunity to practice, the memory had lingered in her mind all this time.

Now, at last, she had found her chance.

She blew a breath onto her palms, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Are you ready?”

Yu Cheng couldn’t help but chuckle.

She found Her Majesty quite adorable—even her seemingly rough actions carried a charming clumsiness. Eager to prove herself, she straightened her legs and hummed in acknowledgment. “Ready.”

In the next instant, Ji Zhao’s hands landed squarely on her chest.

Yu Cheng: “……?”

Ji Zhao tilted her head, perplexed. “Yu Cheng, is your waist really this wide?”

Yu Cheng’s face flushed crimson. She gripped Ji Zhao’s wrist, guiding her hand to her waist, and squeezed out between gritted teeth, “It’s here.”

“Oh,” Ji Zhao replied.

Her hand moved lower, kneading Yu Cheng’s waist as she asked, “What was that earlier?”

Yu Cheng glanced at the Follow PD camera, her tone carrying a faint threat. “It’s footage we’ll have to cut later.”

Ji Zhao nodded. “Even after I pressed so hard, you’re still able to talk normally?”

“…I’m just enduring it,” Yu Cheng replied.

Ji Zhao nodded again.

Yu Cheng pursed her lips. Her hands continued downward, stopping at the base of Yu Cheng’s thighs. As she pushed inward, she clearly felt Yu Cheng flinch, and her eyes lit up. “Is this area sensitive?”

Yu Cheng: “What?”

Follow PD: “?”

What kind of beastly words are these?!

They had changed into more comfortable clothes at the foot spa—short sleeves and shorts. Ji Zhao’s hand was firmly pressed against Yu Cheng’s skin, the palm against the tender flesh. A shiver ran up Yu Cheng’s spine, and she instinctively tried to pull away, but Ji Zhao forcibly spread her legs. “Don’t move!”

Yu Cheng: “……”

Follow PD silently moved the camera away: “……”

Oh my, this is so embarrassing! My hand slipped just as I was filming this.

Though the Follow PD’s slip caused CP fans to erupt in curses, in their anger, they also analyzed the footage for hidden sweetness, turning it into one of the Ten Great Sugars of the Prophets.

[I suspect if the camera hadn’t been moved, it wouldn’t have made it past the censors. Thank goodness for Follow PD’s quick thinking!]

[Don’t forget to thank the well-digger! Thank you, Follow PD!]

[But moving the camera just made it feel like we were watching a porn… those stifled moans… those awful lines like “How does that feel?” “Would this be more comfortable?” “Tell me if it hurts.” Oh, Omega, my face is burning!]

******

Adult relationships are just different, huh? Pei Jia and Ying Tian are still stuck on Maca Barca, while our couple has already blasted off into outer space…

Oh my god, I just saw my OTP filming an intimate scene!

They’re defiling my precious! I’m calling the cops!

Did I hear that right? Ji Zhao told Yu Cheng to turn over and lie face-down? What’s she doing…? We’re supposed to be filming a proper variety show, Your Majesty… If this keeps up, we’ll end up on Pornhub!

Pei Jia and Ying Tian are children’s literature. Shen Yican and Chen Xingzi are the bitter rivals of Jin Bai, locked in a doomed AO romance. Song Jiangjiang and Qiao Yue are pure schoolgirl innocence. But our pairing… we wish we’d met at the flower market instead…

Won’t this make you wet? Won’t this make you wet?! Won’t this make you… wet?

Yu Cheng was very obedient. When Ji Zhao told her to change positions and lie face-down, she obediently lay on the flattened electric sofa. She rested her chin in her hands, watching Ji Zhao’s shadow reflected on the wall.

She asked, “Are you going to give me a back massage?”

 

The moment the words left her lips, Yu Cheng felt a weight settle on her back. She paused, startled. “Zhaozhao?”

Ji Zhao spread her legs and sat down on Yu Cheng’s back.

Yu Cheng’s skin, chilled by the air conditioning, instantly trembled against Ji Zhao’s warm body. She tried to sit up, but Ji Zhao pressed her down. “Don’t move. I can’t see properly—it’s affecting my movements. Am I sitting straight?”

She was asking Follow PD, who had already adjusted the camera angle. Follow PD nodded. “Straight.”

Ji Zhao smirked in triumph.

Her palm slid across Yu Cheng’s back. “How does that feel?”

Yu Cheng remained silent.

Ji Zhao hummed in confusion and shifted lower, pressing against the small of Yu Cheng’s back. The movement made Yu Cheng gasp.

Startled, Ji Zhao asked, “What’s wrong?”

Yu Cheng buried her face in her hands, muffling her voice as she forced out a strained, “Nothing…”

She had never known before that such a thing existed in this world—something so painful yet addicting. Every movement Your Majesty made on top of her was unbearable, yet she couldn’t bear to end it.

Seductive, forbidden thoughts churned in her mind between heavy breaths. She allowed herself to indulge in wild fantasies, casting aside the unbridgeable gulf between sovereign and subject. In her delusions, she pinned Your Majesty beneath her, kissing with reverent tenderness from forehead to lips.

She kissed her almost reverently, until desire built to an uncontrollable intensity.

“Time’s up!” Follow PD stood up from the corner, interrupting her reverie. “Congratulations, you’ve completed the challenge. Now you can order your meal. For hot pot, would you prefer to eat at the table or by the hot spring?”

Ji Zhao remained on top of Yu Cheng, reluctant to move. Removing her blindfold, she asked, “How would we eat by the hot spring?”

Follow PD explained, “We can move the table onto the balcony. That way, you can eat for a while and soak for a while, without having to run back and forth. It’s up to you.”

Naturally, Ji Zhao chose the more indulgent option.

“Alright,” Follow PD said, turning off the camera and pulling two GoPros from his backpack. “During free time, feel free to film whatever you want. We won’t bother you.”

Ji Zhao watched Follow PD leave. Seeing Yu Cheng still sprawled on the table, not even lifting her head, she couldn’t help but hum. She leaned down, her lips brushing against Yu Cheng’s ear. “Are you asleep?”

“…No,” Yu Cheng murmured. “You should get up first.”

Ji Zhao hummed in understanding and started to sit up. But then she noticed Yu Cheng’s ear tips were bright red, and her playful mood surged. She paused mid-movement and gently tugged at Yu Cheng’s ear. “I don’t want to get up.”

Yu Cheng’s face flushed even deeper, her voice strained. “Your Majesty!”

“What?” Ji Zhao stared at her with amusement. “So fierce. Are you trying to rebel?”

“…I wouldn’t dare.”

“Look at me. Let me see your face.”

“Your Majesty, please step down.”

“I’ll just watch from here!”

“This posture is truly improper. If Your Majesty refuses to step down, this subject cannot comply!”

Hearing Yu Cheng’s firm tone, Ji Zhao grew even more suspicious. After a moment’s thought, she relented, “Fine, fine,” and pretended to move to step down. But the moment Yu Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and looked up, Ji Zhao lunged forward. “Your face is flushed!”

She laughed. “This is quite an eye-opening experience. To see Esteemed Minister Yu blush so deeply, I might as well—”

“Your Majesty!” Yu Cheng, humiliated and enraged, rose to pick Ji Zhao up. But in her fluster, she lost her strength, and Ji Zhao, caught off guard, began to fall straight to the ground. Yu Cheng gasped in panic. “Your Majesty—!”

With lightning speed, she grabbed Ji Zhao’s wrist and yanked her back. In an instant, their positions were reversed.

Ji Zhao was now beneath Yu Cheng.

Yu Cheng, trembling with fear and anxiety, forgot about their awkward position. “Are you hurt? Did you hit anything? Your Majesty? Your Majesty?”

Ji Zhao stared blankly at Yu Cheng, blinking rapidly.

 

In the dim light, Yu Cheng’s features were indistinct. Her usually composed face, favored by her fans for its cool detachment, had shattered, leaving only raw worry and fear exposed.

Yu Cheng was worried about her—terribly worried.

This realization brought a sense of pleasure to Ji Zhao’s heart. She knew this was the emotion a subject should feel, and any court official would worry about her. But she just felt that Yu Cheng was different.

She couldn’t quite put her finger on how, but she just knew.

The corners of her lips curved upward. “Yu Cheng.”

“Your Majesty?”

“Come closer.”

Yu Cheng hesitated briefly before obediently leaning closer. In the next instant, Ji Zhao wrapped her arms around Yu Cheng’s neck and gently kneaded the nape of her neck. “I’m fine. I was just worried something had happened to you.”

Standing so close, Yu Cheng could smell the faint, delicate fragrance emanating from Ji Zhao. Her throat bobbed as she stammered, “I-I’m fine.”

“But your face is so red.”

“…The room is too hot.”

“It’s not hot.”

“…”

“Is it because you like girls that you can’t get too close to them?”

“I don’t—”

“No, I meant your body likes girls, so you can’t get too close…” Ji Zhao paused, her lips brushing against Yu Cheng’s ear. Her warm breath tickled the earlobe. “Does it… react?”

“!!!”

“I learned all about it at that experience place today. Girls have physical reactions too, you know.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“Do you need some time and space?”

“…”

“Why aren’t you answering?”

Yu Cheng placed her palm against Ji Zhao’s ear and propped herself up. She gazed deeply into Ji Zhao’s eyes before dropping her gaze. “…This subject dares not.”

“What’s wrong with that? It’s perfectly normal,” Ji Zhao reassured her. “I understand.”

Yu Cheng rolled off the bed and was about to speak when someone knocked on the door. A staff member from the foot spa walked in with a smile. “Hello! Your hot pot and snacks have arrived. Would you like us to set it up now?”

Yu Cheng hummed absentmindedly.

The staff member turned and waved to someone outside, and a line of delivery people filed in.

The dining table was wheeled onto the balcony, and a long cord was run inside to power the hot pot. This chain restaurant was supposedly brought over from the mountain city, so the hot pot was authentic. The nine-grid hot pot bubbled and simmered, its aroma quickly filling the room.

There was more than just hot pot. Desserts and fried snacks covered another table, making the mouth water.

“Enjoy your meal!” The last staff member considerately closed the door, leaving the room silent except for the bubbling of the hot pot. The sound of the boiling broth was impossible to ignore.

Ji Zhao had already sat up. She glanced at the hot pot, then at Yu Cheng, thought for a moment, and finally spoke: “You really don’t want—”

“Your Majesty!” Yu Cheng interrupted, flustered and her face flushed crimson. Unsure what to say next, she stood up abruptly. “I… Whatever Your Majesty wants to eat, I’ll go get it.”

She’s blushing.

Ji Zhao chuckled inwardly. Her Grand General Yu was definitely embarrassed.

However, Yu Cheng didn’t want to discuss it further. Even if Ji Zhao cared deeply about her subjects’ personal lives and orientations, this wasn’t the time to pry. After all, she needed to spare Yu Cheng some dignity.

With a knowing look, Ji Zhao said, “Just go get the boneless duck feet.”

Yu Cheng: “……”

Though she didn’t know what exactly Ji Zhao was so “knowing” about, she had a sinking feeling it wasn’t anything good.

Still, the change in topic was welcome. It would prevent further conversation that might reignite Ji Zhao’s suspicions. Yu Cheng quickly composed herself, burying those fleeting, presumptuous thoughts even deeper. After placing the boneless duck feet in the pot, she stared at the crimson oil swirling in the broth, her mind going blank again. “…This is so spicy?”

“What? I asked for mild!” Ji Zhao walked over, turned on her GoPro, and pointed the camera at the hot pot, swallowing hard. “It looks delicious.”

“I’ll try it.” Yu Cheng picked up her chopsticks, dipped them in the broth, and licked the tip. She immediately burst into tears from the heat. “It’s spicy! Water! Where’s the water?!”

In a panic, she twisted open the bottle beside her and gulped it down. After finishing, she licked her lips. “Why does this still taste a little spicy?”

Ji Zhao: “……Because you just drank wine.”

Yu Cheng: “…………”

The next moment, she collapsed.

 

The floor was cushioned by a soft blanket. After confirming Yu Cheng wasn’t hurt, Ji Zhao covered her with a light quilt. She turned the GoPro camera toward the audience and waved. “Hello, everyone! I’m Ji Zhaozhao, and Yu Cheng and I are about to enjoy a hot pot dinner. Unfortunately…”

She crouched down, barely managing to get Yu Cheng in the frame. “Yu Cheng’s drunk.”

“Don’t worry, no one forced her to drink. She just can’t hold her alcohol. She’ll probably wake up after half an hour,” Ji Zhao said, patting Yu Cheng’s sleeping face. “Do you want to watch me eat or watch her sleep?”

Then she added, “Oh, I can set up two cameras.”

When the episode aired, CP fans repeatedly rewatched the massage segment until it was practically worn smooth, finally feeling ready to move on. They expected to see a foreshadowing of a hot spring scene, but instead the screen split in two—

One side showed Yu Cheng sleeping, the other showed Ji Zhaozhao eating hot pot.

Yu Cheng’s peaceful slumber was matched by Ji Zhaozhao’s ravenous eating. A sleep streamer and an eating streamer in the same space, captured by different cameras, created a strangely harmonious yet dissonant atmosphere.

The dissonance came from the fact that they’d already thought the earlier massage scene was unstreamable, only to be surprised by the sleep and eating streams that followed. The eating stream was one thing, but falling asleep during filming—wasn’t that an accident?! Yet they couldn’t stop watching!

The harmony came from: Remember when we were younger? You loved eating, and I loved sleeping. One day at a foot spa, you accidentally fell asleep, and in your dream, you had no idea how much I ate… That trope hit me so hard…

[A netizen commented: “Fanfic writers, if you keep messing with this pairing, I’m seriously calling the cops!”]

In short, at the foot spa, Ji Zhao ate for as long as Yu Cheng slept. However, during the broadcast, editing and speed adjustments were used, adding to the comedic effect.

This time, Yu Cheng woke up quickly. Before she could even react, Ji Zhao pushed her into the hot spring, where Yu Cheng submerged her head for a full minute.

Just as Ji Zhao was starting to wonder if she’d suffocated, Yu Cheng suddenly shot her head up, long hair dripping water that splattered all over Ji Zhao, instantly soaking her.

Ji Zhao: “……”

She took a sip of cola, expressionless. “You got me wet.”

The dazed look in Yu Cheng’s eyes quickly vanished, replaced by clarity. Her immediate response, however, was: “Where am I wet?”

Ji Zhao: “……”

Why does this feel so… off?

Yu Cheng: “……”

It was really weird.

[CP fans watching this episode: My heart hears everything as filthy—dedicated to myself.]

*******

In the evening, the trainees who had been out filming returned to the estate one by one.

As they passed the convenience store, Ji Zhao bought Yu Cheng a glass bottle of milk to soothe her alcohol and spice hangover. Yu Cheng sipped it through a straw as she walked, but had barely circled the fountain when Song Jiangjiang’s voice rang down from upstairs:

“Hey! Look who’s back! Mr. Yu, why are you drinking milk like a kid?”

Ji Zhao looked up. “Did the peacock not come back with you?”

Song Jiangjiang: “……”

Ji Zhao pressed her advantage. “Without you, will it even fan its tail?”

Song Jiangjiang clutched her chest, pretending to cough up blood. “Y-you’re so ruthless! What have I ever done to you?”

Ji Zhao strode into the entrance hall, her voice ringing coldly upstairs. “For that snide tone of yours.”

The dormitory was riddled with hidden cameras. Song Jiangjiang turned to the lens with a bitter expression, wailing about Ji Zhao’s every word and action. “Do you see this? This is the girl group!”

The camera nodded.

 

Hearing voices on the stairs, Song Jiangjiang rushed out and intercepted Ji Zhao and Yu Cheng before they could reach the fourth floor. “I heard you got lost today and ended up at some kind of experience center. Was it fun?”

Ji Zhao and Yu Cheng exchanged a look.

Ji Zhao beckoned Song Jiangjiang closer. When she leaned in, Ji Zhao whispered, “How do I put this? I’d say it’s a must-visit place for lesbians. You learn a lot there.”

Song Jiangjiang pondered. “About what?”

“Bedroom stuff,” Ji Zhao replied.

After a two-second silence, Song Jiangjiang let out a high-pitched scream and ran off. “What are you telling a pure girl group trainee like me?! I’ve been building this innocent image on this show! Now I’m dirty!”

Ji Zhao chuckled, meeting Yu Cheng’s slightly exasperated gaze. “What?” she asked defiantly.

Yu Cheng shook her head. “You’re just happy.”

“Why?”

Even though she knew exactly why Yu Cheng was happy, she insisted on probing further.

As expected, Yu Cheng replied, “When Your Majesty smiles at me, I’m happy.”

The fourth floor was primarily a leisure area with only a few bedrooms. Apart from Yu Cheng and Ji Zhao, only Zhou Yuting and Shen Xin had been moved there. Since the latter two hadn’t returned yet, the entire fourth floor felt eerily quiet.

However, staff members had been waiting for them, saying there was a new task to be assigned, with the task card already prepared.

“At this late hour?” Ji Zhao pulled the key from Yu Cheng’s pocket and opened the door. “What kind of task could this be? Yu Cheng, read what it says.”

Yu Cheng took the task card.

She read aloud, “Hello! Dear Trainees, congratulations on reaching 1 million followers on Weibo! Since you’re currently training at the estate and can’t interact with your fans in real-time, the 1 million follower reward is a live stream for your fans!”

“A live stream?” Ji Zhao sat down on the sofa. “When?”

“Tonight, right now.” Yu Cheng looked up. “It says we need to stream for two hours. There’s no specific format; we just need to chat with our fans and show them our dorm life.”

Neither Ji Zhao nor Yu Cheng had live streamed before, but they understood the process. They simply needed to start a live stream through the production team’s app. Once activated, anyone entering the live stream would see them in real-time, a bit like a one-sided video call. Fans could ask questions by typing comments.

Though it felt like working overtime after returning home from work, since it was a fan benefit, they had to go through with it.

So, at exactly 8:47 PM that evening, Ji Zhao and Yu Cheng simultaneously posted Weibo updates. Ji Zhao wrote, “I’m live streaming now! Come join and interact with me!” While Yu Cheng posted, “I’m live streaming with blogger ‘Debut! Girl – Ji Zhaozhao V’. Come join and interact with us!”

The Yuzhao CP super thread immediately exploded with excitement.

[I rushed over!]

[What’s this? Yuzhao CP! One bite! What’s this? Yuzhao CP! One bite! What’s this? Yuzhao CP! One bite!]

[I thought a live stream connection meant they’d be in separate places. But they’re in the same frame… What’s going on? Are they showing off their affection?]

[Tricked a Ji Zhao fan in here just to kill her, huh…]

“Hello, everyone!” Ji Zhao waved at the camera, then leaned forward uncertainly, her face filling most of the frame. She stared blankly at the phone screen. “Can you guys see us?”

[Whoa! Seeing this stunning beauty up close is making my breath catch!]

[Aaaaaah! I was about to see Yu Cheng, but now I can only see you!]

[Does anyone get it…? From start to finish, Yu Cheng’s gaze has been fixed on Ji Zhaozhao… Don’t get too attached.]

Ji Zhao straightened the phone and sat back down, nudging Yu Cheng with her shoulder. “It’s your turn to introduce yourself.”

Yu Cheng raised her hand. “Hello, everyone. I’m Yu Cheng.”

Ji Zhao looked at the camera. “Smile.”

Yu Cheng curved her lips into a smile.

“Read some of the comments for me,” Ji Zhao said.

Yu Cheng spoke without hesitation. “Someone said they want you to know they really like you.”

Ji Zhao: “?”

[ Commenters: ] “……”

[ Ji Zhaozhao fans: ] “Who? Which traitor?!”

[ Yu Cheng fans: ] “Following orders and commands? I’m not your little dog!”

Yuzhao CP fans: “Don’t tell the truth in the comments, Yu Cheng!”