Fan-made guide — content verified from public playthrough sources. Road to Empress is © New One Studio.
Road to Empress

Chapter 4: Crown Prince's Palace Enigma 2

The mystery of the Crown Prince's palace deepens. A missing token threatens your position, Consort Yin harbors murderous intent, and the path to survival grows …

Survival Rate35%
Choices9
Death Branches13
Favor CheckLi Zhi, Li Tai
QTEYes

Synopsis

The mystery of the Crown Prince's palace deepens. A missing token threatens your position, Consort Yin harbors murderous intent, and the path to survival grows narrower at every turn. The Ninth Prince Li Zhi offers unexpected aid, but even his protection comes at a cost. Your final confession will determine whether you escape the palace enigma alive — or become its next victim.

Choice-by-Choice Walkthrough

Choice 1

A token has gone missing from your quarters. What do you do?

Go back to look for it
Show outcome
DEATH

Searching alone draws dangerous attention

Let it slide — it is not worth the risk
Show outcome
SAFE

Prudence keeps you under the radar for now

Choice 2

You are questioned about the missing token. How do you explain its absence?

Say Liu Xi stole it
Show outcome
SAFE

Deflecting blame buys time but plants a seed of discord

Claim you lent it to another chamberlain
Show outcome
DEATH

A lie without proof seals your fate

Say you left it with His Majesty
Show outcome
DEATH

Falsely invoking the Emperor is instant treason

Choice 3

An opportunity arises to manipulate the Crown Prince's ambitions. What do you do?

Push the Crown Prince to rebel
Show outcome
RISKY

Dangerous gambit — Li Tai gains a point but instability rises

Stir trouble between the Prince and his ministers
Show outcome
DEATH

The ministers are not as gullible as you hoped

Choice 4

Consort Yin confronts you with murderous intent. What do you say?

"Consort Yang is my Aunt…"
Show outcome
DEATH

Name-dropping does not save you from a blade

"Is this really for your late husband?"
Show outcome
SAFE

Striking at her grief stops her — temporarily

No Response
Show outcome
DEATH

Silence is interpreted as guilt

Choice 5

Consort Yin's vulnerability is exposed. How do you respond?

Let the past stay in the past
Show outcome
DEATH

Dismissing her pain makes her your enemy forever

You are fooling yourself
Show outcome
SAFE

Harsh truth breaks through her delusion — she backs off

I can help you get revenge
Show outcome
DEATH

Promising what you cannot deliver ends badly

No Response
Show outcome
DEATH

Your silence is taken as contempt

Choice 6

Consort Yin lunges at you. What do you do?

Escape — run for your life
Show outcome
SAFE

You flee to safety, but Yin is not finished

No Response
Show outcome
DEATH

Hesitation is fatal

Choice 7

The Ninth Prince Li Zhi intervenes. How do you thank him?

I will repay you, Your Highness
Show outcome
SAFE

Gratitude earns Li Zhi's deep trust — Li Zhi Favor +8

Are you not curious about what happened?
Show outcome
SAFE

Your candor intrigues him — Li Zhi Favor +5

Choice 8

Before Yin can strike again, you must tell someone. Who do you trust?

Tell His Majesty
Show outcome
DEATH

The Emperor cannot be bothered with palace squabbles — you are ignored

Tell Consort Wei
Show outcome
DEATH

Consort Wei sees you as a pawn, not a ward

Tell Consort Yang
Show outcome
SAFE

Consort Yang's authority shields you — for now

Choice 9

You have the chance to confess to your Aunt. What do you reveal?

Say only that Kindness plotted to kill the Emperor
Show outcome
SAFE

A measured truth — chapter cleared, Crown Prince's Palace Enigma resolved

Lay out the whole story
Show outcome
DEATH

Too much information exposes too many secrets — you are silenced

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Chapter 4 so lethal compared to earlier chapters?

Chapter 4 represents a major difficulty spike. The Crown Prince's palace is a nest of competing factions, and nearly every wrong answer leads to a Bad Ending. The key is to be concise and never over-explain — saying less keeps you alive.

Should I push the Crown Prince to rebel?

It is the only non-lethal option at that choice point, but it is still classified as risky. It earns Li Tai +1 favor and advances his plotline, which can pay off in later chapters. However, it also makes the political situation more volatile.

Does it matter which Li Zhi response I pick?

Both are safe, but the first option ('I will repay you') gives +8 favor versus +5 for the second. If you are building toward the Li Zhi true ending path, always choose the first.

← Previous
Ch3: Crown Prince's Palace Enigma
Next →
Ch5: Southern Mountain Hunt