With more than a hundred potential routes for you to take as you play through Road to Empress 2's various branching paths, you'll need to get used to backtracking and changing your mind often if you plan to make it from Ganye Temple all the way to a seat on the throne.

Whether you meet with a terrible fate and find your end at the hands of another, make your escape and live a life of your own outside the temple, or ascend to the throne, here's a look at how to get every ending in Road to Empress 2.

Though we've tried to avoid anything we can, this guide contains spoilers fore Road to Empress 2.

All Road To Empress 2 Endings

While the notion of reaching an ending in most games means hours of backtracking and save-scumming to get back to where you need to be, Road to Empress 2 features a sprawling story tree, through which you can click and navigate at any time.

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And good thing, too, since there are more than 100 endings possible in Road to Empress 2. Some of them result in your taking the throne, but most of them are the result of small slip-ups or decisions along the way that lead to your untimely demise. Most of these are "bad endings," but not every ending in Road to Empress 2 is a bad one.

To navigate through the most important decisions in Road to Empress 2, you'll need to use the Storyline to click between scenes, changing decisions as needed and watching through the full video scenes that depict your choices playing out. When you reach an ending, you'll see a name and number for each ending, as well as a bit of flavor text that provides a clue on which decision you should make that might change your fate in this situation.

You'll also receive voice notes when you unlock endings, with the characters involved in the previous scene leaving a comment on what's just taken place. These also function as hints, since the character whose wronging leads to your demise will often tell you exactly what you've done wrong.

In all, you'll need to follow a careful flow chart and make smart decisions to ascend to the throne in Road to Empress 2, with dozens of endings possible between the main story and side story. Expect to hop around quite a bit to make different decisions if you're trying to see all the content in the game - you'll likely meet your end many a time before reaching the Court.

When you reach an ending, you'll see a wealth of information about your ascent to the throne: how long it took to reach the rank of Empress, how many endings you saw on that run of the game, and any other pertinent information about the run.

You'll unlock a variety of bonus content for doing so, including Court mode to have the option to preside over the Court without going back into the story branches, currency rewards, and more.

Click below to expand our list of every ending in the main story of Road to Empress 2, including the chapter number in which it can occur, the decision node in question, and which decisions in the game will lead to this fate. We've been purposefully somewhat vague about your decisions, to prevent spoiling anything that happens as a result.

While some ending numbers are the same between the main story and the side story, the content within them is different - you'll be on a completely different path in the game's side story, following the Prince of Wei through the countryside on a mission from the Mirage Pavilion if you leave Ganye Temple in pursuit of a new life instead of heading back to the Palace with Empress Wong during the prologue.

Every Ending In The Road To Empress 2 Main Story

Ending Number

Chapter Number: Story Node Name

Decision

001

Prologue: Liu Xi's Terms

Beg Xiu Li not to mess up your face.

002

Give up to keep Prince of Wei safe.

003

Prologue: Chance to Meet Li Zhi

Burst through the door.

004

Slip the hairpin to the nun to give to Li Zhi.

005

Prologue: Seize the Hairpin

Fail the first QTE to fend off Xiu Li.

006

Prologue: Clutch Moment

Fail the second QTE to fend off Xiu Li.

007

Prologue: Never Another Chance

Fail the QTE when the nuns are covering your mouth as you scream.

008

Chapter 17: A New Era

Agree.

009

Chapter 17: Palace Grace

Exploit Consort Xiao's resentment for Empress Wang.

010

Chapter 17: Tell the Truth?

Tell the Empress you're more than friends.

011

Tell the Empress everything she's heard is a rumor.

012

Chapter 17: Rumor or Truth?

Tell the Empress you're more than friends.

013

Tell the Empress either that what she's heard is true, or that it's a rumor.

014

Chapter 17: The Invitation

Suggest serving the Emperor as a maidservant.

015

Suggest serving the Emperor as a concubine.

016

Chapter 18: Empress's Question

Ask the Empress to punish the maid.

017

Chapter 18: Empress's "Concern"

Tell her you can't handle this anymore.

018

Chapter 18: What Do You Want?

Ask to gain status by bearing Li Zhi's child.

019

Suggest Li Zhi spends more time with Consort Xiao.

020

Chapter 18: Li Zhi's Disappointment

Tell Li Zhi you don't want him to go to the Empress.

021

Chapter 19: Questioned Identity

Smile and remember.

022

Chapter 19: Report to Empress?

Slap Xiu Li in the previous scene, then don't report it.

023

Ignore Xiu Li in the previous scene, then report to the Empress.

024

State your loyalty in the previous scene, then report to the Empress.

025

Side Chapter 20: Assassin

026

Chapter 20: Spend Your Stipend

Buy gifts for the Empress and Consort Liu.

027

Chapter 20: Take Her Hand

Fail the QTE.

028

Chapter 20: Is Consort Xiao the Culprit?

Agree, then warn Consort Xiao.

029

Say the culprit is elsewhere.

030

Chapter 20: What Is Your Wish?

Ask that you're able to investigate.

031

Chapter 20: Force Liu to Confess

Disguise yourself as Rui'er's ghost.

032

Chapter 21: Linglong's Interrogation

Tell her you've been thrown out.

033

Tell her you've stepped out.

034

Chapter 21: Brace Against the Ground

Fail the QTE to brace yourself.

035

Chapter 21: Who is the Culprit?

Blame Li Zhong.

036

Suggest Li Zhong and Li Sujie acted together.

037

Chapter 21: How Shall This One be Dealth With?

Acknowledge him as your sworn brother.

038

Chapter 21: The Poisoned Earrings

Replace the earrings.

039

Tell Li Zhi the truth.

040

Chapter 21: Break the Alliance

Prevent him from becoming Crown Prince.

041

Make him favor Liu, riling the Empress.

042

Chapter 22: Who Will Inherit the Crown? (2)

Suggest having a child soon.

043

Chapter 22: Who Will Inherit the Crown? (1)

044

Chapter 22: How Will You Use Li Zhong?

Use him to dispose of the Empress.

045

Chapter 22: Spreading Rumors

Say Liu will be the Empress Dowager.

046

Chapter 23: Accept the Title of Zhaoyi?

Decline.

047

Chapter 23: The Empress's Test

Say you'll devote yourself.

048

Chapter 23: Powder in the Tea

Expose it.

049

Chapter 23: Protect the Unborn

Spread rumors that your child is a girl.

050

Chapter 23: Remaining Medicine

Hide the remaining pills.

051

Chapter 23: Beat Youzi to Death?

Either agree to let him be beaten, or time out on the decision.

052

Chapter 24: Recruiting Youzi

Be fiercer than the Empress.

053

Chapter 25: Promotions

A post with a higher stipend.

054

Chapter 25: Ji Huaizhong's Concerns

Be rude during the previous two scenes.

055

Chapter 25: Throw Them Off Balance

Impeach Chancellor Zhangsun

056

Petition to grant you the title of Empress instead.

057

Chapter 26: Will You Recruit Him?

Decline.

058

Chapter 26: Control of the Court

Rally the others.

059

Plant spies.

060

Chapter 27: Minhui Seeks a Ride

Invite her to ride with you.

061

Chapter 27: Life Giver or Soul Taker?

Tell her she'll be rewarded.

062

Tell her she'll be the child's godmother.

063

Chapter 27: Push Push

Fail the QTE while you're in labor.

064

Chapter 27: Bandits on the Road

Hide.

065

Chapter 27: How to Remove Her?

Choose to make Xu Minhui disappear, then choose to assassinate her.

066

Choose to make Xu Minhui disappear, then choose to poison her.

067

Chapter 28: Throw the Empress Into a Panic

Leak that the assassin is dead.

068

Leak that the assassin was rescued.

069

Chapter 28: The Right Messenger

Rumors.

070

Sujie, son of Consort Xiao.

071

Chapter 28: Choosing Your Words

Opt to show kindness.

072

Chapter 28: A Play for Consort Xiao

Speak plainly where you are.

073

Chapter 28: Who is the Mastermind?

Both.

074

Chapter 28: Guard Arrangements

Say a few guards can remain.

075

Chapter 28: What Use is an Assassin?

Prove it.

076

Chapter 29: Anning's Death

Try to spare her life.

077

Chapter 29: How to Deal with the Murderer?

Expose Li Zhong.

078

Chapter 30: Watch the Show, or Flip the Table?

Either let him do it, or time out on choosing here.

079

Chapter 30: Verbal Duel with Chu Suillang

Say Chu Suillang was entrusted by the Late Emperor.

080

Chapter 30: Allies of the New Empress

Turn the Chancellor.

081

Rally more officials.

082

Chapter 30: What Are We Fighting For?

Don't reply.

083

Chapter 30: What Are Your Odds?

50%.

084

70%.

085

Fail to win the General's favor.

086

Chapter 31: The Decisive Move

Expose his private life.

087

Frame him.

088

Chapter 32: One Strike, one Kill

Embezzlement.

089

Chapter 32: An Ally for Rebellion

Name Li Hong.

090

Name Li Sujie.

091

Chapter 32: Making Li Zhong Panic

You'll see this ending if power shifted from the Dismantling the Clans section.

092

Chapter 32: Li Zhong's Question

Only His Majesty's belief.

093

Chapter 33: Whose Side Are You On?

Kill the Empress, then side with the ministers.

094

Chapter 33: Why Wage War on Baijie?

Kill the Empress, then declare that the war is to expand the borders.

095

Kill the Empress, then declare that the war is to train the army.

096

Kill the Empress, but have deferred to Li Zhi instead of following your judgement in Chapter 31.

097

Chapter 33: A Ware at Stalemate

Mobilize the nation.

098

Chapter 33: A Plan for Swift Victory

Feign retreat.

099

Rally the elites and go through the center.

100

Chapter 34: What to Do with Xu Jingye?

Humiliate him.

101

Win him over.

102

Chapter 34: What to Do with the Slanderer?

Execute everyone on the list.

103

Execute the ringleaders.

104

Chapter 35: Clamor to Depose the Empress

Punish Shangguan Yi.

105

Withdraw.

106

Chapter 35: A Strategic Retreat

Ji Huaizhong and Li Yifu.

107

Chapter 36: Dead With Shanguan Yi

Have Xi Xin eliminate him.

108

Strip him of office.

109

Chapter 36: Act First and Report Later?

Fabricate charges and present them.

110

Chapter 36: Li Hong's Desperate Objection?

Don't let Li Hong die in Chapter 32, then ask if he wants to die.

111

Don't let Li Hong die in Chapter 32, then ask if he's forcing his mother's hand.

112

Chapter 36: Reversing the Empress's Downfall

Invite him to revisit.

113

Plead for Li Yifu in Chapter 35.

114

Chapter 36: Li Zhi's Hesitation

Invitate him to revisit.

115

Chapter 36: The Choice You Know is Right

Agree.

116

Chapter 37: Trap in the Eastern Palace

Leave right away, or fail to respond.

117

Chapter 37: Li Xian's Emotional Stirring

Pick to seize them, but then say you and His Majesty will trust the crown.

118

Pick to seize them.

119

Choose to quash the rebellion.

120

Chapter 39: The Incompetent New Emperor

Reduce him to a figurehead.

121

Chapter 39: Deposing the Emperor

Choose Emperor Li Xiaan.

122

Choose Empress Wei.

123

Choose the Chancellors.

124

Chapter 39: The Vacant Throne

Ascend alone without a new emperor.

125

Chapter 39: The Timid Dan

Send him back to prison.

126

Chapter 39: The Royalist Commander

Someone from the Wu Clan.

127

Someone from the Xu clan.

128

Chapter 40: Li Zhi's Gentle Haven

Choose to stay.

read more

Every Ending In The Road To Empress 2 Side Story

Ending Number

Side Chapter Number: Story Node Name

Decision

008

Side Chapter 17: Prince of Wei's Promise

Ask to go with him.

009

Side Chapter 17: Handle Liu Xi's Death

Hide the body.

010

Shift the blame to an assassin.

011

Side Chapter 17: Danger Approaches

Run, or fail to respond in time.

012

Side Chapter 17: Deal With Official Xia

Ask her to elope.

013

Push her into the well.

014

Side Chapter 17: Which Item to Pawn?

The Peony Hairpin.

015

Side Chapter 17: A Choice Within

Take her hand and go to the abyss.

016

Side Chapter 18: A Chance to Live

Agree.

017

Refuse.

018

Side Chapter 18: The Relationship

Say you're carrying Li Tai's baby, and have saved the girl being sold.

019

Say you're carrying Li Tais' baby, but neglect to have saved the girl.

020

Say Li Tai wronged you, and have saved the girl from being sold.

021

Say Li Tai wronged you, but neglect to have saved the girl.

022

Side Chapter 18: Did You Kill Her?

Say it was a setup

023

Say it was an accident.

024

Side Chapter 18: Cast It on Her

Fail the QTE, but fail to have saved the girl being sold.

025

Fail the QTE after saving the girl.

026

Side Chapter 18: Fight Back

Fail the second QTE.

027

Side Chapter 19: Assassin's Identity

She's admired him for years.

028

The less you know, the safer you'll be.

029

Side Chapter 19: A Dagger That Kills

Kill him.

030

Side Chapter 19: Guard's Suspicion

My true identity might scare you.

031

Give him the vase.

032

Side Chapter 19: What Intel to Deliver?

You personally killed Xiao Nian.

033

Side Chapter 19: A Deadly Choice

Leave.

034

Side Chapter 20: Scatter Dust

Fail the QTE.

035

Side Chapter 20: Throw the Wine Jug

Fail the QTE.

036

Side Chapter 20: Win Over Yuan Lichen

Threaten that it can harm his life.

037

Side Chapter 20: Yuan Lichen's Concerns

Say you can win over Xu Xiaode.

038

Side Chapter 20: Time to Deliver Intel

Tell the Mirage Pavilion Yuan Lichen set a trap.

039

Say the Prince of Wei might lose a few abs.

040

Side Chapter 19: What Intel to Deliver?

Tell the Mirage Pavilion the group is split.

041

Side Chapter 20: Reveal His Whereabouts?

Don't share the information.

042

Side Chapter 21: A Proposal of Marriage

Punch the general.

043

Side Chapter 21: The Guard Approaches

Hide in the crate.

044

Side Chapter 21: Knock Them Out

Fail the QTE.

045

Side Chapter 21: Persuade Xu Minhui

Say her father misses her, or time out on responding.

046

Say the Prince of Wei is more appealing.

047

Say His Majesty is more appealing.

048

Side Chapter 21: Minhui's Resolve

Tell her to go home.

049

Side Chapter 21: The Letter to Xu Xiaode

Say you're pregnant.

050

Side Chapter 22: To Be, Or Not To Be

Leave the evidence.

051

Confess to him.

052

Take the evidence.

053

Side Chapter 23: A Trap in the Capital

Tell him to be careful.

054

Side Chapter 19: A Calculated Retreat

Tell Gaoyang to come with you when you bump into her.

055

Side Chapter 23: A Trap in the Capital

Choose rebellion.

056

Side Chapter 23: Li Zhi's Proposal

Tell Li Zhi you remember that place.

057

Side Chapter 19: Your Dagger

Strike at Yuan Lichen while you're dancing.

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