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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 itDEATH
Searching alone draws dangerous attention
Let it slide — it is not worth the riskSAFE
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 itSAFE
Deflecting blame buys time but plants a seed of discord
Claim you lent it to another chamberlainDEATH
A lie without proof seals your fate
Say you left it with His MajestyDEATH
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 rebelRISKY
Dangerous gambit — Li Tai gains a point but instability rises
Stir trouble between the Prince and his ministersDEATH
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…"DEATH
Name-dropping does not save you from a blade
"Is this really for your late husband?"SAFE
Striking at her grief stops her — temporarily
No ResponseDEATH
Silence is interpreted as guilt
Choice 5

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

Let the past stay in the pastDEATH
Dismissing her pain makes her your enemy forever
You are fooling yourselfSAFE
Harsh truth breaks through her delusion — she backs off
I can help you get revengeDEATH
Promising what you cannot deliver ends badly
No ResponseDEATH
Your silence is taken as contempt
Choice 6

Consort Yin lunges at you. What do you do?

Escape — run for your lifeSAFE
You flee to safety, but Yin is not finished
No ResponseDEATH
Hesitation is fatal
Choice 7

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

I will repay you, Your HighnessSAFE
Gratitude earns Li Zhi's deep trust — Li Zhi Favor +8
Are you not curious about what happened?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 MajestyDEATH
The Emperor cannot be bothered with palace squabbles — you are ignored
Tell Consort WeiDEATH
Consort Wei sees you as a pawn, not a ward
Tell Consort YangSAFE
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 EmperorSAFE
A measured truth — chapter cleared, Crown Prince's Palace Enigma resolved
Lay out the whole storyDEATH
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.

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Ch3: Crown Prince's Palace Enigma
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Ch5: Southern Mountain Hunt