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

Chapter 40: The Great Era Part 2

Li Zhi's ghost — or memory — pulls you into a tender trap. Stay and die; leave and live. This short but pivotal chapter tests whether you can walk away from emo…

Survival Rate70%
Choices4
Death Branches1
Favor CheckLi Zhi

Synopsis

Li Zhi's ghost — or memory — pulls you into a tender trap. Stay and die; leave and live. This short but pivotal chapter tests whether you can walk away from emotional comfort when the empire demands your resolve. One bad ending, one mandatory escape, and a defining choice about how you face history.

Choice-by-Choice Walkthrough

Choice 1

Li Zhi offers you a tender refuge. Stay or leave?

Stay
Show outcome
DEATH

BE 128 — Comfort is a trap; the empire doesn't wait for you to grieve

Leave
Show outcome
SAFE

Resolve + — Main path; the only correct answer is to walk away

Choice 2

You break free from the dream. What do you do?

Break free forcefully
Show outcome
SAFE

Scene 186 — The only option; you wrench yourself back to reality

Choice 3

A thousand years of infamy awaits. How do you face it?

I will crush the world's prejudices along with everything else
Show outcome
SAFE

Resilience +, Resolve + — Strength through force of will

Then I shall forge my era of peace amidst the infamy
Show outcome
SAFE

Ambition +, Strategy + — Recommended; transforming criticism into purpose is the ultimate power move

Choice 4

A loyal minister stands in your way. What is his fate?

Let him live to witness your era of peace
Show outcome
SAFE

Ambition +, Prestige + — Mercy as a demonstration of supreme confidence

Execute him
Show outcome
SAFE

Resolve + — Decisiveness eliminates all opposition

Frequently Asked Questions

Is staying at Scene 184 ever the right choice?

Never. BE 128 is the only bad ending in this chapter, and it triggers if you stay with Li Zhi. The game is clear: the past is a trap. You must leave to continue.

Which infamy choice is better?

Both are safe, but 'forge my era of peace amidst the infamy' (Ambition +, Strategy +) is recommended because it sets up the final chapter's requirements for high Ambition and Strategy. The 'crush prejudices' option is valid for Resolve-focused playthroughs.

Should I spare or execute the loyal minister?

Both are valid. Sparing him (Ambition +, Prestige +) is the historically resonant choice — Wu Zetian was known for recruiting even her enemies. Executing him (Resolve +) is the pragmatist's choice.

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Ch39: The Great Era Part 1
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Ch41: The Great Era Part 3