Meng Zhixian

Biodata

Background / History

Meng Zhixian came from a prominent family and was indulged by his father, mother, and eldest sister. Because he disliked embroidery, they never required him to learn it, instead arranging for skilled manservants to accompany him when he married. His former social circle consisted largely of young gentlemen whose family backgrounds were inferior to his own 12 31 42.

By the time he entered Su Yuhe’s household, he and the Lu brothers had been reduced to government slaves. Lanxin initially took the three to work at Xubai’s estate, then returned them to Su Yuhe when Xubai was leaving for the imperial capital. Su Yuhe was left to support them despite having no spare rooms and insufficient bedding 3.

Appearance

• Exceptional beauty: Su Yuhe describes his features as painstakingly sculpted and flawless, contrasting his striking appearance with the Lu brothers’ cooler, aristocratic looks 11.
• Reputation: Lu Mingxi considers him the greatest beauty in Jiangnan, believing that only the sixth prince rivals him throughout Tianyuan Kingdom 12.
• Hair and complexion: He has long, smooth black hair, dark eyes, and fine, cool skin compared to mutton-fat jade 8 12 32.
• Build: His collarbones are pronounced, though he is not small enough to curl completely into Su Yuhe’s embrace as he wishes 45.
• Grooming: His carefully arranged hair attracts Xubai’s attention at the farm estate, leading Xubai to suspect that he deliberately uses his looks to appeal to women 50.

Personality

Meng Zhixian is proud, competitive, and acutely sensitive to unequal treatment. He resents Lu Mingxi receiving attention while leaving practical work to others, and dislikes what he perceives as Lu Mingyi assuming a principal husband’s authority. He insists that all three entered the household with equal status 8 18 45.

His fall in circumstances makes him increasingly conscious of money. He criticizes wasted firewood, unnecessary purchases, and expensive bathing, while accepting restrictions when they apply fairly to everyone. He also recognizes that he can no longer indulge his former preference for eating only the filling of steamed buns 6 7 19.

Beneath his sharp temper is considerable insecurity. He worries that his limited practical skills will make him expendable when the great cold arrives, and asks Su Yuhe whether she dislikes him. Her praise matters deeply to him: he blushes when she acknowledges his work and seeks reassurance that his contributions are useful 24 31 32 35.

His concern for Su Yuhe sometimes overrides his desire for special treatment. After asking for candied hawthorns of his own, he notices her lack of jewelry and offers to forgo the sweets so the money can be spent on her instead 45.

Abilities & Skills

Literacy and Book Copying

• Copies books alongside Su Yuhe to earn money for the household, although she initially completes several pages in the time he takes to finish one 8.
• Deliberately works to improve his speed; he later tells Su Yuhe that he has copied considerably more than the previous day 9 19.
• His first documented assignment pays half a tael. In mid-March, Su Yuhe sells one book he copied together with two of her own for a combined four and a half taels 27.
• Also assists with preparing writing materials by grinding ink 7.

Cooking

• Takes over stir-frying after Lu Mingyi is splashed with hot oil. Despite nearly burning the vegetables, he follows instructions well enough that Su Yuhe judges him the most promising of the three beginners 4.
• Learns to moderate salt after serving an overly salty meal 5.
• Receives hands-on instruction in beating eggs, steaming egg custard, cleaning cookware, and conserving firewood 4 7.
• Contributes to shared meals, including washing rice and stir-frying vegetables, though he remains insecure about his overall cooking ability 18 32.

Household Work

• Washes dishes, carries purchases, unloads vegetables and chickens, and helps move large quantities of sweet potatoes 6 18 19 34 35.
• Accepts basin washing instead of full baths once Lu Mingyi explains the cost of water and fuel; he also brings Lu Mingyi’s basin and towel 19.
• Has not learned embroidery or needlework and regrets lacking more practical skills 31.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Adjusting to Su Yuhe’s Household

• Learns basic kitchen work while sharing the household’s cramped sleeping arrangements with Su Yuhe and the Lu brothers 4 5.
• Begins copying books to help support the family, becoming increasingly determined to earn rather than rely entirely on Su Yuhe 8 9.
• Waits in the courtyard for Su Yuhe to return one evening, taking her lantern and placing a hand warmer in her hands 11.

Competition for Attention

• Arranges to share Su Yuhe’s quilt by moving Lu Mingxi aside. Her gentle reassurance settles his nervousness, but Lu Mingxi’s repeated attempts to join them leave him frustrated 12.
• Resents Lu Mingxi claiming credit for a dinner that several household members prepared, and later mocks him for accepting Ruan Puchuan’s cooking lessons without considering how to repay the favor 18 21.
• Reluctantly gives up his place beside Su Yuhe when she honors an earlier promise to Lu Mingxi 37.
• Despite their bickering, gives Lu Mingxi an additional steamed bun after realizing that an insult about his appetite also inadvertently targeted Li Yun 39.

Preparing for the Great Cold

• After finishing his copying work, fears that his lack of other skills will cause the household to leave him behind 31.
• Seeks reassurance from Su Yuhe and becomes more direct about wanting her affection 32.
• Helps carry the household’s sweet-potato supplies and tells Su Yuhe that he is no longer useless. She explicitly credits both his earnings and his labor 34 35.

Household Disputes and Estate Work

• Challenges Lu Mingyi over Lu Mingxi’s habit of leaving dishwashing to them and taking the first bath. Lu Mingxi agrees to bathe last in future 44 45.
• Secures Su Yuhe’s promise to take him into town, while resolving not to let Lu Mingxi monopolize her attention 45.
• Reluctantly accepts Su Yuhe’s arrangement for the three men to work at Xubai’s farm estate. On their arrival, Xubai singles him out as a potential seducer because of his grooming 50.

Relationships

• Su Yuhe — Wife and provider. He works beside her as a copyist, seeks her approval, and increasingly expresses his affection openly. She encourages his efforts and rejects his belief that he is useless 8 19 32 35 45.
• Lu Mingyi — Fellow household husband and frequent coworker. They share chores and sometimes bedding, but Meng Zhixian resents his managerial authority and his indulgence of Lu Mingxi 8 19 37 44 45.
• Lu Mingxi — Younger fellow husband and chief rival for Su Yuhe’s attention. Meng Zhixian suspects that his innocence conceals calculated attempts to gain favor, though his warning about predatory women also reflects concern for Lu Mingxi’s safety 8 12 19.
• Li Yun — Household helper and Su Yuhe’s intended husband. Meng Zhixian initially judges him through the prejudices of his former status and envies the attention he gives Lu Mingyi 9 10 37.
• Ruan Puchuan — Visitor who teaches Lu Mingxi to cook. Meng Zhixian treats him dismissively and shows annoyance rather than concern when he chokes during breakfast 21 22 23.
• Xubai — Owner of the farm estate where Meng Zhixian is assigned work. Xubai distrusts his carefully presented appearance at their later encounter 50.