Behind the gilded doors of Consort Wei's inner circle, a feast of deception unfolds. Xi Xin's brother is a pawn in a deadly game, and the choices you make will …
Behind the gilded doors of Consort Wei's inner circle, a feast of deception unfolds. Xi Xin's brother is a pawn in a deadly game, and the choices you make will determine whether he lives, dies, or becomes a weapon. Du Ruo's loyalties are unclear, Lan De lurks in the shadows, and the box you must unlock holds secrets that could topple factions. In this chapter, mercy and pragmatism are not the same thing.
A deliberate order — Du Ruo's story colors your view of Xi Xin
Prioritizing Xi Xin gives context to Du Ruo's actions
Du Ruo's side leads to a trap you cannot escape
Xi Xin's cause is the safer path — and the more just one
The swap is detected — you are exposed as a conspirator
A prison break without resources is suicide
A ruthless but effective strategy — the frame sticks
Actual murder leaves evidence that cannot be erased
A convincing performance — the world believes him dead
An act of mercy — Xi Xin Favor +9 and enduring loyalty
Leverage becomes a noose — Xi Xin turns against you
Wrong — Du Ruo is many things, but not the snitch
Liu Xi has her own agenda, but she is not the informant
Correct — Lan De has been feeding information to Consort Wei
Dismissing the possibility leaves you vulnerable
The box opens — damning evidence in your hands
Caution prevails; Du Ruo remains contained
Mercy to the wrong person is fatal — Du Ruo betrays you
In the brutal logic of the rear palace, killing him outright creates a murder investigation, and breaking him out is logistically impossible. Framing Consort Wei eliminates the threat while turning a liability into a weapon against your enemy. It is ruthless, but survival in the palace demands ruthlessness.
The game provides subtle clues throughout the chapter — Du Ruo's unusual knowledge of timing, Lan De's suspicious absences. Players who pay attention to NPC behavior patterns can deduce it. If you are stuck, Hint Mode highlights the relevant dialogue.
Absolutely. It is the single largest single-chapter favor gain in the game (+9 for Xi Xin). This pays dividends in later chapters where Xi Xin's loyalty can mean the difference between life and death.