The best allies to choose Road to Empress 2 depend entirely on whether you pursue the Empress Path alongside Emperor Li Zhi or forge the New World Path with Li Tai. For absolute palace supremacy, Chancellor Zhangsun and Li Yifu offer the highest political leverage, while Ji Huaizhong is essential for securing military loyalty. Here is the complete, uncompromising breakdown of which factions, ministers, and confidants provide the best benefits when forging alliances in New One Studio's brutal live-action interactive drama.
Surviving the Tang Dynasty court is not a matter of luck; it is a test of ruthless calculation. With over 1,000 minutes of 4K live-action footage and a notoriously high mortality rate, Road to Empress Ⅱ punishes passive players. Every conversation is a trap, and every seemingly minor promotion can trigger a sudden execution. From your humble beginnings as Wu Yuanzhao in Ganye Temple to the blood-stained steps of the throne, your survival hinges on the coalition you build.
Before you can begin recruiting ministers, the game forces a fundamental narrative split. In the early chapters, you must decide whether to return to the treacherous inner palace or seek a new life entirely. This single choice dictates your entire alliance pool for the rest of the playthrough. You cannot play both sides. You must commit to a faction, understand their hidden motives, and manipulate their influence to your advantage.
The Empress Path: Best Allies to Choose Road to Empress 2
If you choose to return to the palace, you enter Emperor Li Zhi's route—officially known as the Empress Path, beginning in earnest around Chapter 17. Here, you are immediately thrust into a deadly proxy war against Empress Wang and Consort Liu (Liu Xi). Your initial lack of influence means you must aggressively recruit high-ranking officials to survive.
Li Yifu: The Ruthless Politician Allying with Li Yifu is non-negotiable if you want to control the imperial succession. When the time comes to deal with the Crown Prince crisis, Li Yifu is the minister who formally submits the petition to replace Li Zhong with Li Hong. He operates entirely on ambition. While he provides massive political leverage to depose your rivals, keeping him loyal requires you to embrace a Machiavellian playstyle, constantly feeding his desire for higher station.
Ji Huaizhong: The Reluctant General Securing military backing is one of the most frustrating challenges in the game. In Chapter 25, countless players watch Ji Huaizhong resign regardless of their dialogue choices. He is a man of strict honor. To successfully scout him, you cannot treat him like a mercenary. You must carefully balance the promotions and posts you offer, appealing to his sense of duty to the empire. If you threaten his honor or offer the wrong bureaucratic title, the alliance shatters instantly.
Chancellor Zhangsun Wuji: From Foe to Shield Initially, Chancellor Zhangsun is your greatest obstacle, actively working to block your rise. Most new players attempt to fight him directly, which inevitably triggers a bad ending. The optimal strategy is to turn him from a foe into an ally. This requires accumulating the "Fortitude+" trait throughout the early chapters. If your Fortitude is high enough during your critical confrontation, you earn his begrudging respect, unlocking Mid End 80. Turning Zhangsun secures the most powerful political shield in the Tang court, allowing you to depose Empress Wang safely.
The Prince of Wei’s Rebellion: Best Allies to Choose Road to Empress 2
Choosing to leave Ganye Temple and forge a new life locks you into Li Tai's route (the New World Path). Here, the alliance dynamics shift dramatically from court bureaucracy to outright rebellion and shadow warfare.
Li Tai: The Dangerous Partner Li Tai, the Prince of Wei, is both your primary romantic interest and your most volatile ally in this route. Allying with him forces you to navigate a storyline aptly titled "The Clash of Two Tigers." You are presented with a delicate choice: use Zhangsun to remove Li Tai, use Li Tai to remove Zhangsun, or stand aside and let them destroy each other. Standing aside grants the coveted "Strategy+" trait. If you pursue his route to the end, you must navigate the "Prince of Wei's Obsession" arc, where every dialogue choice determines whether you rule together or perish in his paranoia.
Gao Yang and the Shadow Network Gao Yang becomes a pivotal figure in Chapter 19 ("Dangerous Reunion"). When sneaking out with Li Tai, bringing Gao Yang along fundamentally alters your intelligence-gathering capabilities. In this route, your personal confidants—such as Xi Xin and Rui'er—transition from mere friends to vital spies. Their survival depends entirely on your ability to deflect suspicion during quick-time events (QTEs), such as the early encounter with Xiu Li.
Key Faction Benefits: Best Allies to Choose Road to Empress 2
Beyond individual characters, Road to Empress Ⅱ tracks your macro-level influence across different societal tiers. The game utilizes an Imperial Assessment Report system that evaluates your governing philosophy, forcing you to choose between the "Rule of Law" and the "Rule of Virtue" when issuing edicts.
The Humble Ranks vs. Noble Families Rallying officials from humble backgrounds is a slow-burn strategy, but it yields immense benefits. By bypassing the entrenched noble families, you trigger Mid End 81, flooding your court with fiercely loyal bureaucrats who owe their entire careers to you. Conversely, aligning with the noble families provides immediate stability but leaves you vulnerable to their constant demands and eventual betrayals.
Winning Over the Generals Military alliances require sharp, decisive action. During the critical dialogue prompt, "What Are We Fighting For?", choosing the response, "Don't you know that every soldier..." is the optimal play. This specific choice grants "Decisiveness+", "Strategy+", and a massive +3 boost to the Minister of Works, cementing your control over the army's logistics and ensuring the generals stand down during your final push for the throne.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I stop Ji Huaizhong from resigning in Chapter 25? You must select the exact sequence of respectful promotions during your negotiation. Avoid treating him like a political pawn; appeal to his sense of duty to the Tang empire rather than offering blatant bribes or threatening his honor.
Can I ally with both Emperor Li Zhi and Prince Li Tai? No. The game forces a hard narrative split early on. You must choose between returning to the palace (Li Zhi's Empress Path) or seeking a new life (Li Tai's New World Path). Your available allies, enemies, and endings change completely based on this single decision.
What is the benefit of allying with Chancellor Zhangsun? Turning Chancellor Zhangsun into an ally using the "Fortitude+" trait prevents a massive mid-game political crisis. It unlocks Mid End 80 and gives you the necessary institutional backing to depose Empress Wang without triggering a fatal court revolt.
How do I get the 'Lingering Echoes' achievement with my allies? To unlock "Lingering Echoes," you need to listen to 30 voice messages from your allies, which typically triggers around Chapter 18. Consistently making choices that favor specific factions will unlock these hidden lore messages.