This Road to Empress 2 full walkthrough provides the optimal path to securing the Dragon Throne and achieving the True Empress ending. Success hinges on balancing three key stats—Intellect, Charm, and Influence—and acquiring all Five Imperial Treasures before the final Imperial Council vote. Straying from this path can lead to lesser outcomes, such as becoming a powerless regent or facing exile.
This guide breaks down the critical choices in each of the game's three acts, provides solutions to the major puzzles, and details the non-negotiable requirements for your ultimate coronation. Follow these steps closely to navigate the treacherous court and claim your rightful place.
Core Mechanics: The Three Pillars of Power
Your journey to the throne is governed by three stats that dictate which dialogue options and actions are available to you. Every significant choice will raise or lower one or more of these attributes. A balanced approach is crucial, but you must prioritize Influence in the late game to win the final vote.
- Intellect: Governs your ability to decipher plots, solve puzzles, and see through deception. High Intellect unlocks
[Decipher]and[Analyze]dialogue options. It is primarily raised through studying in the library and consulting with the Grand Tutor. - Charm: Reflects your charisma and ability to persuade others. High Charm unlocks
[Persuade]and[Befriend]options, making it easier to forge alliances. It is raised by hosting tea ceremonies, attending court events, and choosing empathetic dialogue. - Influence: Your raw political power and the court's perception of your authority. High Influence is required to command loyalty from key figures like General Bao and to pass decrees. It is the hardest stat to raise, often requiring you to sacrifice Intellect or Charm in pivotal moments.
The key is to keep Intellect and Charm above 50 for most of the game to pass crucial skill checks, while ensuring your Influence score is at least 80 before the final act.
Road to Empress Ⅱ in-game screenshot
Act I Walkthrough: The Gilded Cage
The opening act establishes your position as a new consort in the Forbidden City. Your goal is to survive the initial power plays from your rival, Consort Mei, and establish a foundational power base. Your choices here will determine your primary ally for the rest of the game.
First Steps in the Forbidden City
Your first major decision comes during the Emperor's Welcoming Banquet. When Consort Mei subtly insults your provincial background, you have three options:
[Retort with a clever poem](Requires 15 Intellect): This impresses the Grand Tutor and the Emperor, granting +5 Intellect and +2 Influence. This is the optimal choice.[Graciously accept the 'joke'](Requires 15 Charm): This earns you the sympathy of the other consorts, granting +5 Charm.[Remain silent]: No stat change. A safe but unproductive option.
After the banquet, you'll be tasked with managing the palace's silk inventory. Accusations of theft will arise. To solve this, you must investigate the Western Pavilion at night and find the hidden ledger in the loose floorboard beneath the large vase. Presenting this ledger to the Empress Dowager clears your name and grants a significant +10 Influence.
Securing Your First Ally: The Grand Tutor or the Spymaster?
By the end of Act I, you will have the opportunity to secure a powerful long-term ally. You can only choose one.
| Ally | How to Secure Alliance | Long-Term Benefits | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Tutor Wei | Impress him with your knowledge of classic literature during the library sequence. Choose all [Intellect] options. | Provides consistent +Intellect boosts and unlocks unique solutions to puzzles. | Players aiming for a clean, honorable victory. |
| Spymaster Jin | Meet him in the gardens at midnight and agree to feed him palace gossip. | Provides consistent +Influence boosts and reveals hidden plots before they happen. | Players aiming for the most direct path to power, even if morally grey. |
For the True Empress ending, aligning with the Spymaster is slightly more efficient, as the Influence boosts are harder to come by elsewhere. However, the Grand Tutor path is still viable if you make up for the Influence deficit in Act II.
Act II Walkthrough: Whispers and Daggers
Act II sees the political maneuvering intensify. The Emperor's health is failing, and factions begin to form in earnest. Your goal is to uncover the conspiracy against the throne while gathering the first two of the Five Imperial Treasures.
The Tea Ceremony Confrontation
Consort Mei will invite you to a private tea ceremony, which is an ambush. She will accuse you of poisoning the Emperor. This is a critical multi-stage skill check.
- The Accusation: When she presents the tainted cup, choose the option
[Analyze the residue](Requires 40 Intellect). This reveals the poison is a slow-acting but non-lethal agent, casting doubt on your involvement. - The Witness: Her handmaiden will provide false testimony. Choose
[Point out the inconsistencies in her story](Requires 45 Intellect). - The Escape: When the guards are summoned, use the option
[Persuade the junior guard](Requires 50 Charm). He is sympathetic to you and will cause a distraction, allowing you to escape and present your evidence to the Empress Dowager.
Passing all three checks will not only clear your name but will result in Consort Mei's permanent removal from court and grant you a massive +20 Influence.
Road to Empress Ⅱ in-game screenshot
Solving the Moon Gate Riddle
To acquire the Phoenix Pin, one of the Five Imperial Treasures, you must solve the riddle on the Moon Gate in the Empress Dowager's private garden. The riddle reads: "When the five stars align and the dragon drinks the moon, the path is revealed."
- Wait until night. The puzzle can only be solved when the moon is visible.
- Interact with the five star-shaped dials around the gate. You must turn them to match the constellation Draco, which is visible in the sky directly above the gate.
- Find the small pond to the right of the gate. In your inventory, select the Empty Locket you received from your mother in the prologue.
- Use the locket on the pond to
[Capture the moon's reflection]. This turns it into the Moonstone Locket. - Return to the gate and place the Moonstone Locket into the dragon's mouth at the center. The gate will open, revealing the Phoenix Pin.
Act III Walkthrough: The Dragon's Gambit
The final act is a race against time. The Emperor is bedridden, and the Imperial Council will vote to name a successor. You must have all Five Imperial Treasures, the loyalty of General Bao, and the highest possible Influence score.
Road to Empress Ⅱ in-game screenshot
Unmasking the Traitor
The true villain is revealed to be the seemingly benevolent Minister Feng, who has been manipulating both you and Consort Mei. Your ally (either the Grand Tutor or the Spymaster) will provide you with a final piece of evidence: Feng's secret correspondence with a foreign power.
You must present this evidence during the emergency council meeting. Feng will attempt to discredit you. This is where your stats are paramount. You need at least 70 Intellect to counter his arguments and 75 Charm to win the council's sentiment. Successfully exposing him removes the final obstacle to your ascension.
The Imperial Council: Final Vote
This is the game's climax. The vote depends on a final score calculated from your stats and actions.
- Influence Score > 80: Required. If lower, you cannot initiate the vote.
- Have all Five Imperial Treasures: Required. Each treasure provides a symbolic vote from a region of the empire.
- Alliance with General Bao: Required. Secure his loyalty by completing his side quest in Act II (rescuing his son from bandits). He controls the military and his vote is worth double.
- Exposed Minister Feng: Required. Failure to do so results in him seizing power.
If all conditions are met, the council will vote in your favor. You have two final choices for your title: Empress Regnant or Holy Empress. The choice is purely for flavor and does not affect the outcome. Congratulations, you have achieved the True Empress ending.
The Five Imperial Treasures Locations
Acquiring all five treasures is mandatory for the best ending. They are scattered across the three acts.
- Phoenix Pin: Found behind the Moon Gate in the Empress Dowager's garden in Act II.
- Dragon Seal: Held by General Bao. He gives it to you as a sign of loyalty after you complete his side quest in Act II.
- Jade Mirror: A gift from the Spymaster if you ally with him. If you allied with the Grand Tutor, you must find it in the secret compartment of the library's main desk after solving a rotating-disc puzzle.
- Celestial Scroll: Purchased from a foreign merchant who visits in early Act III. You must have at least 60 Charm to haggle him down to an affordable price.
- Kirin Statuette: The final treasure. It is hidden in Minister Feng's office. You can only access it after he has been arrested, just before the final vote.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I get the True Empress ending? You must finish the game with an Influence score over 80, have all Five Imperial Treasures, secure an alliance with General Bao, and publicly expose Minister Feng as a traitor at the final Imperial Council meeting.
Can you save Minister Kai? No. Minister Kai's assassination in early Act II is a fixed plot point that serves as the catalyst for the main conspiracy. You cannot prevent it, but you can avenge him by bringing Minister Feng to justice.
Who is the best ally, the Grand Tutor or the Spymaster? Both are viable, but the Spymaster provides more direct boosts to Influence, which is the most critical stat for the endgame. The Grand Tutor path requires you to be more proactive in finding other sources of Influence.
What's the fastest way to raise Influence? Prioritize actions that have a public impact. Successfully navigating the Tea Ceremony Confrontation gives +20 Influence. Clearing your name in the stolen silk plot gives +10. Aligning with the Spymaster also provides a steady stream of Influence throughout the game.
The Throne is Yours
Road to Empress 2 is a game of careful calculation and political maneuvering. While other paths exist, this walkthrough details the most reliable route to the True Empress ending. By balancing your attributes, securing key items, and making decisive choices, you can dismantle the conspiracy against the throne and begin your own dynasty.