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 upNEUTRAL
Dignity preserved through composure — but at a personal cost
If this reaches His MajestyDEATH
Threatening to involve the Emperor backfires immediately
Next to Your Grace, I am just a wannabeSAFE
Self-deprecation defuses the situation without losing face
Choice 2

Xi Xin is injured. Do you intervene?

She is with Preciousness — do not interfereRISKY
Branch A: Leaving her leads down a different path
Stop her and ask if she is fineRISKY
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 passSAFE
Patience keeps you alive — acting rashly endangers the entire clan
Team up with other Wu women to fight backDEATH
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 isSAFE
Deflecting suspicion by claiming knowledge — a dangerous bluff
I am the Woman Ruler WuSAFE
An audacious claim that shocks the court into silence
You crooked officialDEATH
Insulting a court official is a death sentence
No ResponseDEATH
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 sufferDEATH
An emotional plea fails to move a man of science
A woman as emperor has never happened beforeDEATH
Historical precedent is not an argument against prophecy
Defying fate brings divine wrathSAFE
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 YangNEUTRAL
Family loyalty in the darkest hour
GaoyangNEUTRAL
The princess's fierce friendship endures
Li ZhiNEUTRAL
The Ninth Prince's quiet devotion
Li TaiNEUTRAL
The ambitious prince's calculating interest
Choice 7

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

Kneel and kowtow in acceptanceSAFE
Humility in captivity — you accept her terms
RefuseSAFE
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 prophecySAFE
Following the prophecy's thread leads toward the truth
Find who is pulling the strings behind itDEATH
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 WuDEATH
Too obvious — and wrong
A female officer who knows WushuDEATH
A clever misdirection, but incorrect
A general with a feminine nameSAFE
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