Meng Jiyao

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Meng Jiyao (孟寄瑶)
Alias(es)	A-Yao, used by Xiao Yuanqi 95
Gender	Female 26
Affiliation	Meng family; Great Qian imperial family; Girls’ School 26 96 114
Occupation/Role	Crown Princess; examination-qualified scholar; supporter of women’s education 26 42 156
Spouse	Crown Prince Xiao Yuanqi 112
First Appearance	Chapter 26, “Consort selection 2” 26

Background / History

Education and Secret Examinations

Meng Jiyao’s parents favored her older brother, Meng Chang, and considered education unnecessary for a daughter. They expected her to learn embroidery and household management before marrying. Refusing those limits, she persuaded Meng Chang to teach her. Although he had little academic talent himself, he taught her carefully, and she became an accomplished scholar 26.

She created a false identity, returned to the family’s hometown under a pretext, and took the examinations disguised as a man. That year, she entered the Spring Examination and ultimately earned Second-Class Palace Examination Third Place. Before the Ministry of Personnel could appoint her to office, Meng Chang assumed her examination identity and left the capital. Previous cases of successful candidates declining official service helped the siblings avoid close investigation 26.

Selection as Crown Princess

At the consort-selection gathering, Gossip System 011 revealed Meng Jiyao’s examination success through Shen Shixu’s thoughts. The assembled women admired her courage and learning, while Xiao Yuanqi became eager to meet her. Shen’s subsequent thoughts suggested that becoming Crown Princess could give her the influence to establish women’s schools and create a precedent for female officials 26 27.

Xiao Yuanqi arranged a private meeting and directly asked her to become his Crown Princess. Meng questioned whether her refusal to accept women’s prescribed place made her unsuitable, then asked whether he genuinely supported women studying and holding office. His declaration that he would employ capable people regardless of gender persuaded her that the position could offer a path toward change 27.

Girls’ School

Meng Jiyao joined Xiao Yuanqi and Xiao Jinyi in planning a Girls’ School. Their principal obstacle was anticipated opposition from conservative officials. At Yuanqi’s suggestion, Jinyi sought Shen Shixu’s advice, with Meng visibly hopeful that he could help 42.

Shen proposed combining classical learning with traditional arts and practical skills to make the school more acceptable. Implementation was left to Yuanqi and Meng, while Empress Lin recruited influential supporters and teachers. The school subsequently admitted both noble daughters and ordinary women; common students received free tuition, meals, and lodging 43 44.

By the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, the school was described as being under Meng Jiyao’s name. She and its students jointly made a Hundred Blessings Pearl Robe for the celebration. Later, the students’ businesses brought noblewomen’s money and connections together with ordinary girls’ ideas and labor, creating opportunities beyond the inner household. Female official appointments remained an aspiration rather than an established reform in the provided account 27 96 115.

Marriage and Imperial Family Life

Meng Jiyao married Xiao Yuanqi in the Crown Prince’s wedding ceremony. She wore a bridal veil she had embroidered herself and nervously placed her hand in his; he tightened his hold reassuringly before they entered the hall to exchange their wedding bows 112.

At the subsequent tea ceremony in Cikang Palace, she served the Empress Dowager, Emperor Wu’an, and Empress Lin, receiving red envelopes from each. She also presented handmade embroidery and gifts selected for the younger royals. Her gift to Shen Shixu was a coordinated outfit created with the Girls’ School students to thank him for improving women’s opportunities 114 115.

Her later appearances show an increasingly relaxed place within the family. She chose to spend rare free time with Empress Lin rather than accompany the brothers’ antics, and defended Xiao Jinyi’s right to enjoy adulthood and marriage without constant supervision from Yuanqi 157 167.

Appearance

• Complexion: Her hand is described as fair and smooth during the wedding ceremony 112.
• Bridal attire: A red veil embroidered with a dragon and phoenix in auspicious harmony 112.
• Tea-ceremony hairstyle: A Skyward Bun decorated with ruby ornaments 114.
• Tea-ceremony clothing: A red Su brocade gown with tassels 114.

Personality

Meng Jiyao is determined to test her abilities rather than accept restrictions placed on women. Her secret examination attempt began as a way to discover how capable she truly was. Despite her achievement, she responded modestly to other women’s praise, pointing out that reading more books did not free her from the same constraints they faced 26 27.

She is also cautious about promises of reform: before accepting Yuanqi’s proposal, she explicitly asked whether he supported women’s education and official service. Within the imperial family, her manner is considerate and increasingly playful, from hiding a smile at the brothers’ banter to intervening when Yuanqi became overly protective of Jinyi 27 156 167.

Abilities & Skills

Scholarship

• Studied under Meng Chang despite her parents’ opposition 26.
• Earned an examination degree and Second-Class Palace Examination Third Place while using a male identity 26.
• Did not take an official appointment under that identity; her brother helped conceal her success before the Ministry of Personnel assigned a post 26.

Embroidery and Textile Work

• Embroidered her own dragon-and-phoenix bridal veil 112.
• Made sachets and handkerchiefs for the imperial elders 114.
• Collaborated with Girls’ School students on ceremonial clothing and Shen Shixu’s coordinated outfit 96 115.

Educational Reform

• Helped plan the Girls’ School and address the political obstacles to establishing it 42 43.
• Supported using her prospective position as Crown Princess to expand women’s educational and public opportunities 27.

Gifts

Recipient	Gift
Empress Dowager	Hundred Blessings Pearl Robe, made with Girls’ School students 96
Imperial elders	Hand-embroidered sachets and handkerchiefs 114
Princess Qingyang	Blue-clear jade jewelry set 114
Princess Huimin	Pearl jewelry set 114
Second Prince	Fine brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone 114
Third Prince	Pair of blue-and-white porcelain vases 114
Fourth Prince	Collectible set of travelogues 114
Sixth Prince	Jade ornament 114
Xiao Jinyi	Renowned sword Frost and Snow 114
Shen Shixu	Blue-and-white Cloud Brocade outfit, matching shoes, and hair crown, prepared with Girls’ School students 115

Relationships

• Meng Chang — Older brother and teacher. Supported her education, covered for her examination activities, and assumed her false identity to conceal her departure from the official appointment process 26.
• Her parents — Favored Meng Chang and discouraged her studies, expecting her to prepare for household duties and marriage instead 26.
• Xiao Yuanqi — Husband. Chose her as a capable partner and expressed support for employing talented people regardless of gender; they subsequently worked together on the Girls’ School 27 42 112.
• Shen Shixu — Advocate whose overheard thoughts helped connect her marriage prospects with women’s reform. She welcomed him as family and presented the students’ thank-you gift to him 27 115.
• Xiao Jinyi — Younger brother-in-law and collaborator in the school project. She later defended his independence when Yuanqi pressed him to pay more attention to court affairs 42 167.
• Empress Lin — Mother-in-law and supporter of the Girls’ School. Meng chose to spend a rare free afternoon keeping her company 43 157.
• Girls’ School students — Collaborators in textile gifts and beneficiaries of the educational initiative associated with her name 96 115.

Notable Quotes

“I've merely read a few more books than the rest of you. It's nothing remarkable. We're all the same.” 27

“Your Highness supports women studying and serving as officials?” 27

“What harm is there in letting him live a little more freely?” 167