Rumors about the Crown Prince's legitimacy threaten the dynasty. Your response to the scandal determines whether Lixian trusts you — or whether you walk into a …
Rumors about the Crown Prince's legitimacy threaten the dynasty. Your response to the scandal determines whether Lixian trusts you — or whether you walk into a fatal trap at the Eastern Palace. Four bad endings and a critical prerequisite chain make suppression of rumors the only viable path forward.
Scene 173 — You weaponize the rumors, but this choice locks you out of the main path and makes death options in Scene 174/175 lead to BE 117/119
Scene 173 — Main path; protecting Lixian's reputation keeps the main path open
BE 116 — Resolve +, but fleeing shows weakness
Resilience + — Main path; composure under pressure
BE 116 — Resolve +, hesitation is interpreted as fear
BE 117 or 118 — A nostalgic memory that doesn't serve the political moment
BE 117 or 118 — A heroic memory but not the right message
Strategy +, Lixian Trust +1 — Main path; this memory reinforces your bond and your legitimacy
BE 117 or 118 — Misrepresenting Li Zhi's intentions backfires
Strategy +, Lixian Trust +1 — Main path; but only if you suppressed rumors at Scene 172. If you spread rumors, this leads to BE 119
Chapter complete — A simple gesture of trust seals the alliance
If you spread rumors (Scene 172 option 1), then death options at Scene 174 lead to BE 117 and Scene 175 option 2 leads to BE 119 instead of Scene 176. The rumor choice poisons every subsequent interaction with Lixian.
It triggers BE 116, same as leaving immediately. The game treats hesitation as the same as fleeing — in politics, indecision is a decision.
Yes. The Lixian Trust accumulated here carries into Chapter 38 and affects the final arc. Both trust gains in this chapter (+1 at Scene 174 and +1 at Scene 175) are important for the optimal ending.