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

Chapter 8: The Ominous Prophecy 1

A prophecy threatens to upend everything — a woman of the Wu clan will rule as emperor. As suspicion closes in, you must navigate court politics, ancient supers…

Survival Rate40%
Choices9
Death Branches9
Favor CheckLi Zhi, Li Tai, Consort Yang, Gaoyang

Synopsis

A prophecy threatens to upend everything — a woman of the Wu clan will rule as emperor. As suspicion closes in, you must navigate court politics, ancient superstition, and the terrifying possibility that the prophecy might be about you. Li Chunfeng's wisdom is your only guide, but even his help comes with riddles. The wrong answer at any turn could mean death for you and your entire clan.

Choice-by-Choice Walkthrough

Choice 1

A rival humiliates you by demanding your ceremonial robe. How do you respond?

I will disrobe. Rui'er, get up
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NEUTRAL

Dignity preserved through composure — but at a personal cost

If this reaches His Majesty
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DEATH

Threatening to involve the Emperor backfires immediately

Next to Your Grace, I am just a wannabe
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SAFE

Self-deprecation defuses the situation without losing face

Choice 2

Xi Xin is injured. Do you intervene?

She is with Preciousness — do not interfere
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RISKY

Branch A: Leaving her leads down a different path

Stop her and ask if she is fine
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RISKY

Branch B: Intervention changes the dynamic between you

Choice 3

The Wu clan faces a crisis. How do you respond?

Sit tight and wait for it to pass
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SAFE

Patience keeps you alive — acting rashly endangers the entire clan

Team up with other Wu women to fight back
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DEATH

Organized resistance is treated as conspiracy

Choice 4

The Leaving Director interrogates you about the prophecy. What do you say?

I know who the Woman Ruler Wu is
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SAFE

Deflecting suspicion by claiming knowledge — a dangerous bluff

I am the Woman Ruler Wu
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SAFE

An audacious claim that shocks the court into silence

You crooked official
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DEATH

Insulting a court official is a death sentence

No Response
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DEATH

Silence is interpreted as an admission of guilt

Choice 5

You attempt to win over the astronomer Li Chunfeng. What argument do you make?

Too many innocents will suffer
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DEATH

An emotional plea fails to move a man of science

A woman as emperor has never happened before
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DEATH

Historical precedent is not an argument against prophecy

Defying fate brings divine wrath
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SAFE

The only argument Li Chunfeng respects — invoking cosmic order

Choice 6

While imprisoned, a visitor comes to you. Who do you hope it is?

Consort Yang
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NEUTRAL

Family loyalty in the darkest hour

Gaoyang
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NEUTRAL

The princess's fierce friendship endures

Li Zhi
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NEUTRAL

The Ninth Prince's quiet devotion

Li Tai
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NEUTRAL

The ambitious prince's calculating interest

Choice 7

Liu Xi offers you a promise in prison. How do you respond?

Kneel and kowtow in acceptance
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SAFE

Humility in captivity — you accept her terms

Refuse
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SAFE

Pride intact but the offer withdrawn

Choice 8

The Ninth Prince offers to help investigate the prophecy. Which lead do you pursue?

Track down the person tied to the prophecy
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SAFE

Following the prophecy's thread leads toward the truth

Find who is pulling the strings behind it
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DEATH

Hunting the puppet master before you are ready ends badly

Choice 9

You must identify the Woman Ruler Wu. Who is she?

Someone with surname Wu
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DEATH

Too obvious — and wrong

A female officer who knows Wushu
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DEATH

A clever misdirection, but incorrect

A general with a feminine name
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SAFE

The correct answer — the prophecy's true target revealed

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I keep getting stuck at 97% exploration in Chapters 8-9?

The most common cause is the 'Xi Xin's Injury' choice. Both branches (do not interfere and intervene) must be played through to count toward 100% exploration. Many players only complete one branch and miss the other entirely.

Is it really safe to claim 'I am the Woman Ruler Wu'?

Surprisingly, yes. The audacity of the claim shocks the court into momentary paralysis, buying you time. However, this choice has narrative consequences that ripple into later chapters — it marks you as someone willing to claim power, which changes how certain characters perceive you.

How do I figure out the 'Woman Ruler Wu' riddle?

The key is to think laterally. The prophecy does not refer to someone literally named Wu — it refers to a general whose name has a feminine character. This is one of the game's trickiest puzzles, and most first-time players get it wrong on their initial playthrough.

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Ch7: The Ominous Prophecy
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Ch9: Consort of Preciousness's Downfall