Most times in any huge open-world game, the smaller areas tend to have a large amount of collectible items. The Imperial Palace area introduced in the recent Where Winds Meet update is one such area.
One of the common mistakes people have made is to head to this area without completing certain objectives and quests in previously available areas – which are a requirement to unlock quite a few collectibles in the Imperial Palace area.
Here we will list out all the collectible items in Imperial Palace, both bugged and non-bugged ones, along with the location and minigame details, to completely cover everything you need to know about them in Where Winds Meet.
All Collectibles in Imperial Service
One of the things you should note is that some collectibles only appear in different seasons. You can switch seasons between Fair and Snow. The ability to switch seasons comes from completing the quest “Jianghu Legacy II- Grand Nuo Ritual.”
Talk to Captain Yan Yi, located at the western section of Chongyuan Hall, near the Kaifeng Imperial Palace entrance, to start the quest.
Note: Every collectible has the season name next to it, so you will know which season to set to get the collectible. To change the palace status, open the Map, and then select Fair or Snow under the Palace icon on the top-right.
Also, I have listed the collectibles in an order that is easiest to obtain, and not in terms of grouping of collectibles. In short, here is the list of collectibles covered by the guide:
- Treasure Chests x14 (2 Hidden Ones)
- Anecdotes x7
- Benevolent Heart and Skillful Hands
- The Allotment of Ice
- Refugees in the City
- Gourmet Stall
- Mutton Buns
- The Palace Gate Interdicts
- TBD (Bugged)
- Miscellaneous
- Boundary Stone Location
- Heal the Illness
- Meow Meow (Pt 1 and 2)
- Canine Capers
- Cricket Fighting
- Cat Play
- Injustice (Pt 1 to 6)
- Universal Harmony
- Winter Treasure Chest
- Oddity
- Ice Sculpture
- Encounter: True Healing
Boundary Stone | Fair Season
It’s on the road south of Imperial Service, north of Sealed Treasury. There is a fast travel point near the Imperial Service; you can travel to the location of the stone.
Anecdote #1 – Benevolent Heart and Skillful Hands | Fair Season
After grabbing the stone, head a bit left, enter the Imperial Service area from the southwest entrance, and get into the building on the left, and you will find the NPC, ‘Wen Tong,’ sitting on the chair writing his scroll. Talk to him and exhaust all the dialogue options, and you will receive the Anecdote Benevolent Heart and Skillful Hands.
Heal the Illness | Fair Season
Talk to Sun Du in the Imperial Service area, in the open spot outside of the building where we had a conversation with Wen Tong. You will find Sun Du outside, near the stone railings. He will be having a headache, so treat his illness, and you will complete the mission.
Chest #1 | Fair Season
Head inside the room behind Sun Du, southwest of Imperial Service, stick to the left route, and you will come across a chest on the right wall.
Chest #2 (Mouse King Trailing) | Fair Season
To the right of Sun Du, listen to Mouse King, a small rat. After a while, it will try to head back to its home. Now you know what to do: chase after the rat to find the second chest.
Meow Meow’s Treasure I/II | Fair Season
Located to the west of Imperial Service, here you will find a tiny cat wearing an adorable helmet, next to a measurement scale. The scale will have a flower root on the left, and we have to place the correct amount of copper to balance the scale weight.
Here you must place
- 1x Small Copper Weight
- 1x Medium Copper Weight
- 2x Large Copper Weight
After you have placed the copper weight, as mentioned above, the scale will get balanced out, and you will get the reward in return. Do note, it’s only the first part of the Meow Meow mission; we will come across the second one later on.
Rewards: x5 Echo Jade/ x5 Imperial Dried Fish/ x3750 Coin/ x2 Oscillating Jade/ x3750 Stored EXP/ x45 Imperial Palace Exploration
Chest #3 | Fair Season
From the Meow Meow riddle, take the route on its left, move, and enter the first building to your left, and you will find the chest right out in the open, near the entrance.
Chest #4 | Fair Season
From the last chest, get out of the room, jump over to the rooftops of the chest room. Now head to the building on the left, go underground, and you will find the next treasure box.
Anecdote #2 – The Allotment of Ice | Fair Season
Now leave the building where we found the last treasure chest, head outside, and turn left, right by the stairs, you will find the NPC, ‘Zhang Quan’. Just talk to him, and you will obtain the Anecdote – The Allotment of Ice.
Canine Capers | Fair Season
Head to the northwest section of Imperial Service, and you will find a black dog standing in the middle, right by the stairs. Interact with the dog, and select ‘Stand Straight.’
Rewards: Jade Fish x24/ Trace jadex216/ Elegance x344/Imperial Palace Exploration x8/ Doggy Bait x1.
Chest #5 | Fair Season
Enter the building on the left of the dog, just head in the direction the dog is facing, and you will find the chest on the left.
Chest #6 | Fair Season
Now get out of the building and head to the building on the right, and you will find the second chest in the area.
Chest #7 Windfall (Hidden) | Fair Season
Now head to the building behind the dog, and turn right, and you will find a scroll. Read the scroll, and you will get the information that the coins are hidden in the water vat behind the Imperial Service’s back door. The service is located north of Imperial Service; you will only get the stuff from the water van.
Chest #8 Gambling Funds (Hidden) | Fair Season
Head outside the building, where we found the clue, and you will find two guards talking to each other about gambling. Here, you will open up another hidden treasure in the Imperial Service. The coin from the treasure lies on the roof of the guard lounge. Check the rooftops on the right of the two guards, and you will find the loot.
Cricket Fighting | Fair Season
You will find Cricket Fighting (Insect Fighting) in the northwest section of the Imperial Service. Take part in the minigame, where your cricket goes against another one. You will get the reward after winning the cricket match.
Rewards: Jade Fix x45/ Trace Jade x405
Chest #9 | Fair Season
It’s located in the building on the east side of the Imperial Service. Just head inside, and you will find a small treasure box in the room.
Anecdote #3 – Refugees in the City | Fair Season
In the same room where we found the last chest, switch the time to Zi hour, and the place will spawn three NPCs on the table near the open chest. Interact with the table to talk to all of them at once, and you will get the Anecdote as a reward.
Chest #10 (Mouse King Trailing)| Fair Season
Get out of the room where we found the last Anecdote, head left, and then turn right, and you will find the Mouse King hiding under the lamp. Follow the Mouse King, and it will lead you to the treasure within the Imperial Service.
Chest #11/ #12 | Fair Seasons
Now head east of Imperial Service, and enter the large building, marked on the map, and you will get a treasure box inside.
Chest #12: Leave the building where we found the last chest, and go behind it, and you will find a treasure box on the ground.
Cat Play | Fair Season
From the last chest, head up the road, and you will find a white cat on the side, near the stairs. Pet the cat to get the Cat Play.
Rewards: x8 Imperial palace Exploration/ x1 Kitty Doudou
Injustice I/VI | Fair Season
It’s part of A Stinky Fate, part of an exploration quest.
You will find two men, Geng Ye and Wang Bin, arguing outside of Imperial Service, the southeast section of the area. As you might have guessed, this will quickly turn into a fight; defeat both of them to complete the Injustice. You will not complete the entirety of Injustice; this brawl counts as the first part of the six-part storyline.
Rewards: Jade Fish x24/ Trace Jade x216
Universal Harmony | Fair Season
Head near the Boundary Stone, south of Imperial Service, and you will find a couple of fireflies gathering next to it. The second you get close to them, they will fly up in the sky. Follow them to complete the Universal Harmony.
Rewards: Jade Fish x90/ Trace Jade x810
Chest #13 | Fair Season
Head inside the main building in the center of Imperial Service, turn right, and you will find the chest in the corner.
Anecdote #4- Gourmet Stall | Fair Season
If you move left of the main building in the center, you will find the NPC, ‘Yao Wei,‘ having a conversation with a stranger. Eavesdrop on the conversation to earn the Anecdote Gourmet Stall.
Anecdote #5 – Mutton Buns | Snow Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Snow
You don’t have to move an inch from the last spot, where we receive the Anecdote Gourmet Stall, stay at the same spot, change the season to Snow, and listen to the Yao Wei conversation at a distance. And you will get the Mutton Buns anecdote.
Meow Meow II/II | Snow Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Snow
Next to Yao Wei, the NPC that we eavesdropped on to get the Anecdote Gourmet Stall and Mutton Buns. If you look closer, next to his legs, you will see a cat with a fancy hat. Last time we had to deal with a riddle, this time we will need to play some questions and answers:
Question #1: Which of the duties doesn’t fall under the Imperial Service Institution?
- Option A: Patrolling palace Gates
- Option B: Investigating unusual activities in the palace
- Option C: Ensuring the emperor’s safety during travel
- Option D: Not snoring while sleeping (Answer)
Question #2: What does the Imperial Ice Bureau do?
- Option A: Making delicious popsicles!
- Option B: Ice games on summer days!
- Option C: Storing ice for cooling in summer. (Answer)
- Option D: I don’t know, but ice sounds nice.
Question #3: What kind of prisoners are likely to be imprisoned in the Imperial Prison?
- Option A: Officials offering bribes at court (Answer)
- Option B: Guards slacking off during training
- Option C: Palace maid gossiping behind others’ backs
- Option D: Officials arriving late and leaving early
Question #4: Which of the following doesn’t fall under the Emperor’s requirement for Imperial guards?
- Option A: Bathing every day (Answer)
- Option B: Solidarity in battle
- Option C: Rigorous discipline
- Option D: Diligent training
Question #5: Name the weapon that is likely to appear on the Training Ground?
- Option A: Your silver tongue
- Option B: Cricket
- Option C: Your slapping palm
- Option D: Crossbow (Answer)
That’s it, now you have completed the Meow Meow part 2/2 quest, and you will get the following rewards: Echo Jade x5/ x5 Imperial Dried Fish/ x3750 Coin/ x2 Oscillating Jade/ x3750 Stored EXP
Winter Treasure Chest | Snow Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Snow
This one is located inside the building south of Imperial Service. Just head left from the Meow Meow PT. 2 quest and enter the building, turn right, and you will find the chest at the corner of the room. But it is not accessible right away. Check the table on its left, and you will find the “Nuo Dance Mask“.
Interact to wear the Nuo Dance Mask. After a loading screen, you will see Wu Datou (A ghost-like figure) sitting in the place where the treasure chest is in the room. Talk to Wu Datou so it will leave its spot. If you follow Wu Datou, you will see her putting a severed head back onto the body. Now just unequip the Nuo Dance Mask and the chest once locked, now will be open.
Rewards: Jade Fish x24/ Trace Jade x216
Oddity | Snow Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Snow
Head to the building north of the building in the center of Imperial Service. Here, you will find two lamp-like objects (basically pots with a couple of incense sticks) at the entrance, as marked on the map. Use a ranged weapon on the lamp on the left, and a golden flying object will then come out of the lamp and move to the lamp on the right. Now take the range weapon and shoot the lamp on the right to complete the Oddity.
Rewards: Jade Fish/ Trace Jade/ x1 Golden Echos/ #750 Stored EXP/ x5 Imperial Palace Exploration
Chest #14 | Snow Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Snow
Enter the building where we completed the Oddity quest, where we lit up two incense sticks in a pot. Head inside, and you will find the last treasure box on the right side of the room.
Anecdote #6– The Palace Gate Interdicts | Snow Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Snow
After grabbing the last treasure, head right, in the same building, you will find the NPC,” Rong Yu,” sitting on the chair. Exhaust all the dialogues, and you will get the Anecdote– The Palace Gate Interdicts.
Ice Sculpture | Snow Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Snow
Leave the building where we found Rong Yu, from its entrance at the north, and you will find the NPC, “You Dali,” working on an ice sculpture. Talk to him to play the minigame of sculpting ice to make a decent-looking vase. You will have a picture of the Vase on the bottom-left of the screen, so you will know what to work on besides making an abomination. You will have a fresh cylinder of ice in the middle on a rotating platform. Play with the tool to sculpt the ice into a perfect-looking vase.
Note: You will get a grade based on the shape of the vase. If you did a good job, you will get a Grade A, or if you messed it up, prepare to get the rest of the alphabet.
Rewards: x8 Echo Jade/ x3 Sweep Talisman/ x1200 Coin/ x1200 Stored EXP/ x15 Imperial Palace Exploration
Injustice II/ VI | Snow Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Snow
This one is located on the second floor of Imperial Prison. Head inside the building, north of Imperial Service, in the same area where we completed the Ice Sculpting minigame. I’ve marked the spot on the map for an easy pinpoint. Now, head inside the building, follow the path underground, and you will arrive at the Imperial Prison.
Now, get up the stairs to the second floor of the building, and you will find two NPCs, “Wu Youli” and “Han Sixi”. Talk to them, take part in the duel to complete the second part of Injustice.
Rewards: Jade Fish x24/ Trace Jade x216
Injustice III/VI | Snow Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Snow
You will find Yao Lishuo in the same Imperial Prison, southwest of the location. Once you have completed Injustice 2, head back to the main menu and load your save file. And you will see the NPC, ‘Yao Lishuo’, who will then direct you to talk with another NPC, ‘Hu Xiaolian.’
The next objective is to strike Hu’s Laughter Acupoint, then talk to Hu, and after a brief conversation, he will ask you to talk to Yao Lishuo.
Rewards: Jade Fish x24/ Trace Jade x216
Injustice IV/VI | Fair Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Fair
You will need to talk to Qin Shun, found south of Imperial Service, north of the boundary stone in the area. You can’t miss him, as he is surrounded by dogs, all listening to him. Talk to him, and you will participate in a race against all of his dogs. Win the race to complete the fourth part of Injustice.
Bug Alert: If you don’t find Qin Shun, change the time to Shen. Or the second option is to travel to the boundary stone nearby for him to spawn in the spot.
Rewards: Jade Fish x24/ Trace Jade x216 along with Echo jade/ x1500 Coins/ Oscillating Jade, x1500 Stored EXP, and x8 Imperial Palace Exploration
Injustice V/ VI | Snow Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Snow
Talk to Wan Yi to find the northwest section of the Imperial Service area. The pillar in front of him is attracting people for all the wrong reasons. All the guards are sticking out their tongues and touching the pillar; in snowy weather, all their tongues are stuck to the pillar. Wan Yi will ask us to light the brazier to heat the pillar so the people will get their tongues unstuck from it.
Injustice VI/VI | Snow Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Snow
Head back to the Imperial Prison, where we found “Wu Youli” and “Han Sixi” in Injustice II. Here, drop down the well at the bottom right. Now, swim down, shrink down using the Contortion Mystic skill at the wooden doors, and get up to the left side, and you will see a tiny gap that you can jump. Here you can access the Injustice quest.
Contortion Mystic Skill Location: Head to the southwestern part of Chinggha to trigger the “Tiny Adventure Part One” quest.
Anecdote #7 (Bugged) | Snow Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Snow
You will need to complete ‘Like Shadow, Like Water‘ Wandering Tale; currently, the tale is bugged. The tale begins on the way to the Imperial Prison, and you will find two guards on the route. Talking to them will trigger the tale with the reward. The timer needs to be set to Wei hours to make the guards appear.
Encounter #1: True Healing | Fair Season
Requirement: Set the palace status to Fair
The last collectible exploration lies southeast of the Imperial Service area, where you will trigger the True Healing encounter. Here, talk to the Latrine Attendant in a crowded area to start the encounter. Now follow the objective markers to complete the mission. In short, it is a long quest of talking to multiple people and taking part in minigames.
Rewards: Jade Fish x225/ Trace Jade x2025
That’s it, now you know about all the exploration sites in Imperial Service. Only one of them is bugged; besides Anecdote #7, the rest of them are obtainable in this update of Where Winds Meet.
