Her Majesty The Empress Has Made Her Debut In The Center Position [Ancient to Modern] - Chapter 47.1

How to pursue her, however, remained a dilemma for Yu Cheng.

Although they had another shoot scheduled for tomorrow, they were only using one set of costumes and filming indoors. This meant Song Jiangjiang and the others weren’t in a hurry to sleep. They snuck to the duty-free shop, returned laden with bags, and were humming cheerful tunes as they entered the hotel—only to find Yu Cheng standing guard outside Song Jiangjiang’s room like a temple guardian.

The cheerful humming stopped abruptly, leaving Shen Yican’s whispered words from behind unnervingly clear: “I told you this shop doesn’t have it. I’ll check at the airport.”

“I know! Chen Xingzi, will you stop bugging me? I’m here to shoot a magazine, not to be your personal shopper!”

Completely absorbed in her phone call, she didn’t notice her teammates had stopped ahead. She crashed into Zhou Yuting’s back, causing a flurry of startled cries before everything fell silent.

Shen Yican rubbed her nose and looked up. “What’s going on?”

Song Jiangjiang backed up straight away. “Yu Cheng’s waiting for us…”

Qiao Yue whispered, “No way, Jiangjiang. She’s standing right outside your door. There’s only you, no ‘us’.”

Song Jiangjiang whimpered, “…Like birds in the same tree, when disaster strikes, we scatter!”

Zhou Yuting stepped forward and asked softly, “Yu Cheng, what are you doing here? Where’s Zhaozhao? Did the production team find out we snuck out? Please don’t tell them. We brought you and Zhaozhao some masks—”

“No,” Yu Cheng said, her gaze passing Zhou Yuting to rest on Song Jiangjiang’s hand. “I’m here for Song Jiangjiang.”

Song Jiangjiang: “……”

Her teammates pushed her forward, all saying in unison, “Jiangjiang is here!” Then they hurried back to their rooms with their bags of loot, slamming the doors shut behind them.

“Traitors!” Song Jiangjiang cried indignantly, but then put on a stern, righteous expression. “Yu Cheng, what did you want to see me about?”

Yu Cheng lifted her chin. “Open the door.”

Song Jiangjiang fumbled for the room keycard in her bag, her voice dripping with reluctance. “Isn’t this wrong? If Zhaozhao found out, she’d be jealous and angry.”

“Jealous?” Yu Cheng said. “Only people who like someone get jealous.”

Song Jiangjiang’s face twitched. “So she does like you?”

She pulled out the keycard and opened the door. The motion-sensor light by the door lit up. She beckoned Yu Cheng inside and casually opened a bottle of water. “Anyway, as long as you didn’t come to drag us out shopping, what do you want?”

Yu Cheng cut straight to the point. “Have you ever pursued someone?”

Song Jiangjiang nearly spat out her water, a question mark slowly appearing above her head. “Are you asking if I’ve ever pursued someone, or if someone has ever pursued me?”

Yu Cheng: “If you’ve ever pursued someone.”

“Hiss… that, that…” Song Jiangjiang sat on the sofa, water in hand, lost in thought. “In middle school, I had a crush on an upperclassman from the high school. He was practically the darling of the heavens and the pillar of the nation—handsome, from a good family, and he had me utterly infatuated.”

“And then? Did you pursue him?”

“Of course not.” Song Jiangjiang took a sip of water. “Later, I discovered he was a PC—tsk, I don’t want a dirty man. That taught me a lesson: even the most seemingly perfect man might be rotten inside.”

“Since then, I’ve never liked anyone again. I’ve remained pure and detached all this time.” Song Jiangjiang sighed wistfully. “I’m practically the chosen idol of the heavens! If I don’t debut, who will?”

Yu Cheng: “Oh.”

Song Jiangjiang leaned forward. “But why are you asking?”

Yu Cheng turned to face her, her beautiful eyes shifting slightly, her tone cool. “Zhaozhao said she’d give me a chance to pursue her.”

Song Jiangjiang: “Pfft—”

This time, she actually spat out her drink.

What the hell?! It had only been a few days—wasn’t Yuzhao just drunk on the glittering illusions of wealth and the intoxicating praise of her fans? Had the signs already progressed to the point of confessing and chasing after someone?

“Tell me more,” Song Jiangjiang urged.

Yu Cheng shook her head and stood up. “You have no experience chasing after people. Telling you would be a waste of time. I’m leaving.”

“Wait!” Song Jiangjiang called out.

Yu Cheng slammed her water bottle onto the table. “What do you know?! A true strategist only needs theoretical knowledge to guide a friend’s love life. Now, sit!”

Yu Cheng eyed her skeptically.

“When it comes to chasing someone—” Song Jiangjiang wagged her index finger, preening a little. “I don’t know about guys, but I know girls! Send flowers, gifts, a car, a house—be utterly attentive, always there when she calls. Let me think some more.”

Yu Cheng frowned. “Is that all?”

Song Jiangjiang: “?”

Yu Cheng: “That’s exactly what I did before I even started chasing her.”

Song Jiangjiang: “……”

You think you’re so aloof! How come you haven’t even earned the right to pursue her yet?

Yu Cheng didn’t dare voice her thoughts aloud. She cleared her throat. “Then express yourself. We generally believe in actions speaking louder than words, but you’re clearly doing too much and saying too little.”

Yu Cheng leaned back. “Express what?”

“Your affection, of course,” Song Jiangjiang replied.

“How do I do that?”

Song Jiangjiang began enthusiastically. “That depends on whether you want to be direct or subtle. Directly, you could simply say ‘I like you’ or ‘I love you.’ It’s not particularly romantic, but at least it’s clear. Indirectly, there are endless possibilities: ‘The moon is so beautiful tonight,’ ‘Have you eaten? Are you sleeping? What are you up to, darling?’… Wait, I’m getting off-topic.”

Yu Cheng nodded thoughtfully.

Just then, the phone she had been holding suddenly vibrated. She glanced at it—it was a WeChat notification. After facial recognition unlocked the screen, she paused. “…It’s a message from Zhaozhao.”

“What does it say?” Song Jiangjiang asked.

“She asked what I’m doing,” Yu Cheng replied.

Song Jiangjiang hummed in acknowledgment, then raised her voice. “You haven’t texted her once since you two split, have you?”

“Do you think I should?” Yu Cheng asked.

Song Jiangjiang looked exasperated. “Where do you think constant, meticulous care comes from? You should have been thinking of her the moment you parted!”

Yu Cheng pursed her lips. “That’s not it.”

“What?”

“I missed her even before we separated.”

“…Then why didn’t you just say so?!” Song Jiangjiang was defeated. “You’re even worse than Zhaozhao. Look, she pretends to ask what I’m doing, but what she really means is that she misses you.”

“Really…” Yu Cheng replied. “She’s researching how to pursue Your Majesty.”

Ji Zhao responded instantly: “?”

Then asked again: “Did she figure it out?”

Yu Cheng: “Still discussing.”

Ji Zhao sent a cartoon emoji of rolling eyes: “How do you pursue someone? Isn’t basic intimacy the foundation? You have five minutes—get over here now!”

Yu Cheng sprang to her feet with a whoosh.

Song Jiangjiang jumped. “What’s wrong?”

Yu Cheng shot her a reproachful look. “Why didn’t you tell me that pursuing someone requires basic intimacy?”

Song Jiangjiang thought she misheard. “Huh?”

Yu Cheng grabbed her bag. “I’m going to find Zhaozhao. She wants me to sleep with her.”

Song Jiangjiang: “……”

She stared blankly at the door as it opened and closed, thinking, Oh for the love of… Now I’m part of this damn couple’s act again… They’ve already done the deed—why are they still “pursuing” each other?! What kind of pointless games are they playing?! Ugh!

*******

Late that night, Song Jiangjiang posted a single line on Weibo, accompanied by a stunning selfie. The caption read: “What’s it like having a nauseating couple around you?” The image had nothing to do with the text, but the post was thought-provoking.

Fans of various celebrity pairings on our community rushed to claim the post.

[It’s definitely our Brilliant Star River! Thanks for enduring this, Jiangjiang. You must be sick of watching those long-distance couples bickering on video these past few days.]

[If I wasn’t on unpaid leave, I’d be upside down washing my hair! Our little couple might be an arranged marriage, but we’ve grown sweetly in love since then. We’ve got it all under control, so it’s natural for Jiangjiang to be annoyed!]

[I suspect it’s Qiao Yue and Pei Jia. Do they even have a pairing? That would be the real shocker! They seem unrelated, but who knows what secret rendezvous they’re having? Haven’t you noticed how Song Jiangjiang looks utterly exasperated whenever Qiao Yue and Pei Jia interact?]

[Get lost! V-fans will resort to any lengths to tear down sweet pairings, right? Let me say it again! Song Jiangjiang is jealous! Jealous!]

[Can’t you all just back off? Are you trying to erase Yuzhao’s status as our community’s number one beauty? This is just like when a little couple fights and their friend gets stuck in the middle, trying to give advice but failing to please either side! Who else has been arguing and sulking lately besides Yuzhao?]

[Killing eight thousand enemies to slay one thousand of your own… what a desperate move.]

[The scheming, manipulative Yuzhao fan…]

*******

Yu Cheng, completely oblivious to Song Jiangjiang’s grumbling, hurried straight to Ji Zhao’s room after leaving hers.

Ji Zhao stood in the entryway, arms crossed. Seeing Yu Cheng’s rushed demeanor, she snorted and turned to walk back inside. “Hurry up and take a shower. Don’t forget to turn off the light when you’re done.”

She tossed herself onto the bed and pulled the covers over herself. “I’m tired. You have five minutes.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty,” Yu Cheng replied.

Yu Cheng washed up as quickly as possible. When she emerged from the bathroom in her bathrobe, she saw Ji Zhao lying on the bed, watching her. Ji Zhao had made room for her. Yu Cheng turned off the main light. “I’m here, Your Majesty.”

Ji Zhao glared at her. “You’re late!”

Yu Cheng lowered her gaze. “Then punish me, Your Majesty.”

Ji Zhao closed her eyes. “I’m too lazy to punish you. Just get over here and lie down.”

Yu Cheng mumbled a quiet acknowledgment. She lifted the covers and lay down beside Ji Zhao, turning to face her. Ji Zhao clutched the blanket, her pale purple hair cascading across the pillow, accentuating her delicate features. She looked like a doll in a display window, so beautiful it made one want to snatch her home and claim her as their own.

The audacious thought, once planted, sprouted instantly. Her gaze suddenly turned murky, and her fingers trembled where they lay on the bedsheets. She averted her eyes. “I’m turning off the light.”

Ji Zhao, already flustered from her intense stare, mumbled a distracted “Mm,” her voice still sharp with irritation.

The light went out.

The room plunged into a darkness as thick as ink. As her eyes gradually adjusted, she noticed the smoke detector on the ceiling flashing occasional red dots. After watching it for a moment, Ji Zhao asked, “Are you asleep yet?”

Yu Cheng’s voice was soft and close. “No,” she murmured.

Ji Zhao turned over, resting her cheek in her palm, and gazed at Yu Cheng in the dim light. She realized she had rarely looked at her with such intensity before.

During the morning court earlier, the Dragon Throne had loomed high above, making her subjects seem distant. She had kept Yu Cheng behind in the Imperial Study, drawn to her beauty and wanting to observe her more closely.

Thinking back, hadn’t she already been coveting Yu Cheng’s beauty back then?

Her gaze traced Yu Cheng’s features, from her eyes to her nose, then down to her lips, which she had kissed. Yu Cheng’s eyes opened slightly, her voice serious. “Your Majesty, if you keep looking at me like that, I’ll blush.”

Ji Zhao chuckled. “How can you blush? Are your cheeks flushed?”

Yu Cheng hummed in affirmation.

In the darkness, Ji Zhao reached out. “Let me feel.”

Yu Cheng didn’t flinch. Ji Zhao’s icy fingertips brushed Yu Cheng’s cheek. She tilted her hand, covering more of Yu Cheng’s face. “Indeed, you’re a little warm,” she nodded solemnly. “My Esteemed Minister Yu… you have such thin skin,” she murmured.

Yu Cheng bit her lower lip. “Your Majesty…”

Ji Zhao reluctantly withdrew her hand, rolled over to lie flat, and pillowed her head on her folded arms, refusing to look at Yu Cheng. Her tone had grown noticeably colder. “The night is long, and I can’t sleep anyway. Spill.”

Yu Cheng was taken aback. “Spill what?”

Ji Zhao’s voice sharpened. “You tell me! When did you first start harboring improper thoughts about me? Time, place, and circumstances—you need to be clear about all of it.”

Yu Cheng hesitated. “Your Majesty, I—”

Ji Zhao cut her off impatiently. “Forget it. Just answer my questions.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Before or after you traveled through time?”

“…Before.”

So this is how it is, Yu Cheng, Ji Zhao thought. Looking all innocent and wide-eyed, but hiding your true feelings so deeply!

She gritted her teeth inwardly. “Before or after my coronation?”

“After.” Yu Cheng added uncertainly, “I… I’m not entirely sure.”

Her affection for this person was so vague and fleeting that sometimes even she didn’t know when she’d fallen for him. She was certain when she realized her feelings for Her Majesty, but the exact moment her heart had truly been captured remained a mystery.

“How can you not be sure?” Ji Zhao snapped. “I was only thirteen when I was crowned! You’ve been harboring these feelings for me all this time? You’re far too scheming!”

Yu Cheng reminded her quietly, “I’m only a year older than Your Majesty.”

Ji Zhao snorted. “You’re so… frustrating!”

The hazy affection Ji Zhao had felt when she was young and first falling in love had long faded. What bothered her now was that Yu Cheng had apparently realized her feelings so much earlier. Hadn’t she wasted so many years in vain?

She cleared her throat. “So, when did you realize it?”

Yu Cheng fell silent.

“Hmm?” Ji Zhao pressed, the single word carrying a weighty pressure.

Yu Cheng closed her eyes. “On my eighteenth birthday.”

Ji Zhao shot upright, her voice rising. “You knew you liked me on your eighteenth birthday, and you still kissed someone else? Yu Cheng, you’re a time management master!”

Don’t think I’ve forgotten—you said your first kiss was at eighteen!

Yu Cheng simply watched her.

Ji Zhao was so furious she was seeing red. “You dare look at me!”

Yu Cheng also sat up, took hold of her arm and guided her shoulders, slowly laying her back down. She patted Ji Zhao’s shoulder soothingly, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “Your Majesty, is it possible that the person I kissed at eighteen was you?”

Ji Zhao: “……”

Ji Zhao: “…………”

She was stunned.

What? Yu Cheng kissed her when she was eighteen? How could she not remember? When did that happen? Yu Cheng had volunteered for the frontier the very next day after her eighteenth birthday, and they hadn’t seen each other for a whole year after that. Surely Yu Cheng couldn’t have secretly snuck back—

Ji Zhao’s eyes widened. “Could it have been the night of my birthday?” she blurted out.

Yu Cheng hummed in acknowledgment. “Your Majesty, do you remember how much we drank that night?”

Ji Zhao naturally remembered; she’d even dreamed about it recently. But after getting drunk, she couldn’t remember what happened afterward. When she woke up, she was too furious about Yu Cheng’s request to investigate further.

“Did you take advantage of me while I was drunk?” Ji Zhao demanded, shocked.

Yu Cheng admitted her fault. “I deserve to die ten thousand deaths.”

“Enough with the ‘deserve to die’ talk! How many times have you said that?” Ji Zhao retorted, though her irritation was tinged with embarrassment at the thought of Yu Cheng secretly kissing her. Her voice faltered slightly. “H-how dare you! You actually kissed me!”

Yu Cheng murmured, “So… Your Majesty’s first kiss was also…”

Ji Zhao glared at her.

But secretly, her heart blossomed with joy.

It turned out Yu Cheng had never liked anyone before, nor had she ever kissed anyone. From beginning to end, it had always been only her. Even though she no longer remembered losing her virgin kiss, she felt completely satisfied.

“Alright,” Ji Zhao said stiffly, abruptly changing the subject, “all those years you secretly liked me must have been tough.”

Yu Cheng hurriedly replied, “It wasn’t tough at all!”

Ji Zhao insisted on continuing the topic. “I said it was tough. Was it tough or not?”

Yu Cheng: “It was tough.”

Satisfied, Ji Zhao suppressed her delight, maintaining a serious tone. “Considering how tough it was, I’ll grant you a special favor.”

“Okay,” Yu Cheng replied.

Ji Zhao said, “I’ll let you kiss me.”

Yu Cheng reflexively answered, “Okay.”

Realizing what she’d said, Ji Zhao’s eyes widened. “What did you say?”

“Don’t get too excited,” Ji Zhao said, avoiding her gaze. “You know how I am—clear rewards and punishments. Don’t be ungrateful for my consideration of your hard work. This opportunity won’t come again!”

Yu Cheng sat up slightly and turned to look at Ji Zhao. Uncomfortable under her gaze, Ji Zhao glared. “Aren’t you going to thank me?”

Yu Cheng continued to watch her silently. She reached across Ji Zhao’s body, placing her hand on the other side, and leaned down, her body pressing against Ji Zhao. Her lips brushed against Ji Zhao’s briefly. Seeing that she didn’t pull away, Yu Cheng captured her lower lip.

Ji Zhao gasped softly, the sound amplified in the darkness, stirring their senses. Yu Cheng’s gaze deepened, and she instinctively deepened the kiss.

Her hand, which had been resting beside Ji Zhao, slid upward along the curve of her face, cupping her cheek as the kiss grew tender and lingering.

The sound of wet kisses made their faces burn crimson.

Their heartbeats resonated in sync, their breaths exchanged in the heat. The kiss grew feverish and urgent. The flesh beneath Yu Cheng’s palm softened. Just as everything was about to spiral out of control, the kiss suddenly ended.

Ji Zhao stared at Yu Cheng, a little dazed. Her mind felt like a bowl of mush, and Yu Cheng’s actions only made it more chaotic. She felt a deep reluctance, wanting to pull Yu Cheng back and continue, yet remembering she should maintain some restraint. She cleared her throat and was about to speak when Yu Cheng lowered her head and gently pecked her on the lips.

The kiss was light and fleeting, over in an instant.

Yu Cheng’s lips brushed against her cheek, then moved to her ear. Her husky voice sent electric shivers through Ji Zhao’s ears, making her body tremble and her legs go weak.

Yu Cheng murmured, “Thank you, my lord.”

*******

The next morning, rain fell.

Hong Kong’s weather was notoriously changeable. Thunder boomed as pea-sized raindrops poured down in torrents, striking the floor-to-ceiling windows. The room’s lights reflected on the glass, illuminating the chaotic trails left by the falling rain.

Zhou Yuting stood before the window, sighing. “Good thing we’re filming interiors today. Otherwise, you’d all be calling my name in unison.”

“Yuting—” She had barely finished speaking when Song Jiangjiang called from the adjacent fitting room, “My zipper’s stuck. Come in and help me!”

Zhou Yuting sighed. “Yueyue, I’m admiring the rain. Why don’t you go?”

Qiao Yue was eating an orange and didn’t think much of it, so she just walked over with the orange in hand. Shen Xin noticed this and silently gave her a thumbs-up: “The fans of the ‘Parting in the Vast Moonlit River’ pairing are lucky to have you.”

Zhou Yuting laughed. “That pairing name is way too long.”

Shen Xin hummed in confusion. “Didn’t Zhaozhao and Yu Cheng go to change clothes? How come Jiangjiang went in and they haven’t come back? Did they go off to compete with each other again?”

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