Meng Zhou

Biodata

Background / History

Previous Life and Transmigration

Meng Zhou was born in Jiangnan in his previous life. Before entering the entertainment industry, he lived in a basement amid poor housing and disorderly surroundings. He eventually became a Best Actor winner, traveled extensively for filming, and played roles that included a Daoist priest 7 16 21 24.

He transmigrated into the body of another Meng Zhou after Meng Huaihan pushed her elder brother into a lake and drowned him. A black-clad figure rescued the newly arrived Meng Zhou from the water. He initially possessed no memories of the era, apart from a recurring dream of Jiang Yao’s deathbed command: take no concubines and enter no powerful household 3.

The Meng Household

The original Meng Zhou was the second son of Chancellor Meng Fushan. His mother, Jiang Yao, came from a distinguished military family and married Meng Fushan by imperial decree after he falsely claimed never to have married. Following the Jiang Clan’s losses on the battlefield, Meng Fushan allowed Lady Zhou to displace Jiang Yao as mistress of the household and treat her son as concubine-born 3.

Lady Zhou increasingly withheld their allowances. Jiang Yao died when Meng Zhou was fourteen, unable to obtain adequate medicine. Meng Huaihan continued the abuse, exploiting her brother’s devotion to his mother to provoke him. Although trained in martial arts, the original Meng Zhou usually endured her attacks because he knew his father would not intervene 3 45.

After transmigrating, Meng Zhou resolved to avenge both the original owner and Jiang Yao. He regarded Meng Fushan’s neglect and exploitation as the root of the household’s cruelty rather than treating Meng Huaihan as its sole cause 3 10.

Meeting Chu Huaiyin

Meng Zhou first encountered Chu Huaiyin while replacing an eloped bride at the Right Chancellor’s residence. He intended to investigate Wang Junyang and locate A-Juan; Chu Huaiyin had entered the estate to steal evidence. When guards arrived, Meng Zhou used Wang Junyang’s voice and staged an intimate encounter to conceal them both 2 3.

Chu Huaiyin helped him escape and promised that A-Juan would be released. Meng Zhou introduced himself as “Zhang Zhou,” only later discovering that his rescuer was Prince Huai 3 4.

Their association deepened when Meng Zhou borrowed seven thousand taels to save the Jiang family residence from Jiang Xin’s gambling debts. The agreement required him to perform one task for Chu Huaiyin if he failed to repay the loan within a year. He then defeated Jiang Xin in a sparring match, rebuked his neglect of the household, and entrusted Uncle Liu with five hundred taels for repairs, guards, and medical care 6.

Weapons-Smuggling Investigation

Meng Zhou’s investigation began at Tianjiu Casino, where he identified weapons that did not meet Great Wei’s prescribed specifications. He anonymously warned Chu Huaiyin under the name “Haruki Murakami,” reasoning that the illicit weapons threatened the prince’s military position 7.

He subsequently connected the casino’s weapons to the Liu family’s training grounds. A burned fragment bearing part of Zhou Hancai’s private seal suggested a connection to Lady Zhou’s natal family. After an unsuccessful attempt to enter the Liu residence as a monk, he infiltrated its funeral rites as a Daoist disciple and stole three letters linking the Liu and Zhou families 12 13 14 16.

The letters and concealed case records led him to suspect that Mount Chongling’s supposedly closed iron mines remained active. He deduced that a “ghost-soldier” legend concealed the disappearance of villagers forced into smelting labor, while Zhou merchant caravans transported weapons. He later recognized the casino’s black-copper-coin mark on the Zhou family’s cargo 18 20.

Pregnancy and Flight from the Capital

Meng Huaihan arranged to drug Meng Zhou and send a woman into his room. He resisted until Chu Huaiyin returned, after which the two became sexually involved. Meng Zhou later acknowledged that, although Meng Huaihan’s scheme created the circumstances, he had willingly slept with Chu Huaiyin 9 10 20.

Li Wenle diagnosed his pregnancy. His wet nurse then revealed that Jiang Yao had concealed his ability to bear children from birth, fearing that the Meng household would use it to give him to a powerful man 20.

Meng Zhou hid the pregnancy and planned to leave the capital. He feared confinement in Chu Huaiyin’s household and could not assume that an emperor would offer an exclusive marriage. His attempt to obtain an assignment in Shu Prefecture failed when Chu Huaiyin refused to let him travel 21.

An explosion aboard a cargo ship on Qianyang Lake provided an unexpected escape. During the storm, Meng Zhou cut the belt Chu Huaiyin was gripping so that he would not remain a burden in the water. After reaching safety, he changed clothes and left the capital in disguise. A corpse was subsequently identified as his, convincing Chu Huaiyin that he had drowned 23 25.

Assuming Guan Jiasheng’s Identity

Outside the capital, Meng Zhou met Guan Jiasheng, an official who closely resembled him and was being pursued. Following an attack, the gravely wounded Guan asked Meng Zhou to take his place. Meng Zhou recruited Guan’s servant Afu, disguised himself with makeup and boot lifts, and returned to the capital to investigate the conspiracy 25 26 27.

Chu Huaiyin appointed “Guan Jiasheng” acting capital prefect. In that role, Meng Zhou investigated Lake Tai stone smuggling, exposed a false A Hu, helped uncover a transport tunnel beneath a theater, and rescued the pregnant Lin Yue from villagers attempting to drown her in a pig cage 29 33 35.

The investigation also exposed Meng Fushan’s involvement in concealing the stone shipments. Chu Huaiyin had him executed and the Meng Residence razed. Old Madam Guan nevertheless allowed Meng Zhou to continue using her son’s identity 42 43.

Guan Jiasheng had survived through Liu Yixiu’s treatment. When he returned to the capital, he and Meng Zhou secretly exchanged identities again; Chu Huaiyin immediately recognized that the official attending court was no longer Meng Zhou 47.

Recognition and Restoration

Chu Huaiyin increasingly recognized Meng Zhou beneath his disguise, despite repeated denials. Meng Zhou eventually revealed himself to Jiang Yi, who accepted him as his nephew. He reassured Chu Huaiyin that he would not abandon the name Meng Zhou, while offering an explanation involving memory loss after the lake incident 32 33 40 46.

Chu Huaiyin offered him the vacant left chancellorship, but Meng Zhou remained undecided between staying in the capital and seeking an outside appointment. The offer is not shown being accepted 43.

After a later confrontation, Chu Huaiyin unlocked Meng Zhou’s handcuffs and promised not to frighten him that way again. He and Jiang Yi agreed to restore Meng Zhou’s public identity by announcing that fishermen had rescued him and that the corpse had been misidentified. Jiang Yi learned of the pregnancy from Li Wenle, but Meng Zhou continued concealing it from Chu Huaiyin 49.

Appearance

• Build: Slender, with a narrow waist and a small frame; he becomes noticeably thinner during his investigations and pregnancy 2 21 33 49.
• Features: Black hair, fair skin, red lips, white teeth, and striking brows and eyes. His bridal disguise is described as particularly captivating 2 3 10.
• Hands: Long, smooth fingers with few calluses despite his martial training 23.
• Disguises: Uses costume, makeup, altered posture and expression, and boot inserts to change his apparent identity and height 7 16 27 33.

Personality

Meng Zhou combines practiced composure with irreverent humor. He thinks carefully before acting, improvises quickly when cornered, and rarely trusts others without weighing their character. His theatrical reactions and shameless excuses often conceal serious calculations about evidence, money, or personal safety 3 6 7 33.

His generosity is practical rather than ceremonial: he funds repairs and treatment for the Jiang household, feeds a hungry messenger child, and protects Lin Yue while investigating her husband’s death. He wants to serve a ruler who cares about ordinary people, explicitly choosing Chu Huaiyin for his concern over the unequal conditions within Great Wei 6 7 11 35.

Freedom is his firmest boundary. He refuses to accept confinement in a private household or imperial harem, even while recognizing Chu Huaiyin’s affection and sense of responsibility. His concern that others love only the identity he inherited also makes it difficult for him to accept Jiang Yi’s familial affection 21 40 46.

Abilities & Skills

Acting, Disguise, and Voice Imitation

Meng Zhou applies the skills of his former acting career to infiltration and concealment 3 7 16.

• Reproduces Wang Junyang’s voice without a discernible difference in tone or timbre 3.
• Adopts convincing personas, including an inexperienced gambler, a disillusioned would-be monk, and a Daoist disciple 7 14 16.
• Uses makeup and height inserts to sustain his impersonation of Guan Jiasheng 27.
• Fakes illness, tears, and fainting to redirect suspicion or create an opportunity 16 23 32 33.
• His disguises are vulnerable to rain, physical inspection, and Chu Huaiyin’s familiarity with his habits 31 33 38.

Investigation and Deduction

Meng Zhou builds cases by connecting physical evidence, commercial activity, and concealed records 12 13 18.

• Studies Jiang Yao’s military treatises to recognize nonstandard weapons 7.
• Compares weapon finish, color, and luster to identify a likely shared source 12.
• Links a partial seal to Zhou Hancai and repeated cargo markings to weapons transport 13 20.
• Infers forced labor and illicit smelting from missing-villager reports and the Mount Chongling correspondence 18.
• His urgency over threats to the Jiang Clan sometimes leads Chu Huaiyin to caution him against conclusions not yet verified in person 18.

Martial Arts and Swimming

The body Meng Zhou inherits was trained in martial arts at Jiang Yao’s insistence 45.

• Defeats Jiang Xin in a brief sparring match and knocks aside an object thrown by Meng Huaihan 6 20.
• Can subdue a servant and use the servant’s clothing to escape confinement 16.
• Can swim, unlike the original owner of his body 16 23.
• Has limited stamina and is markedly weaker than Chu Huaiyin or Jiang Yi; he cannot independently force entry into the heavily guarded Liu residence 13 16 23 34.

Calligraphy

Meng Zhou practices with both hands, producing two distinct handwriting styles. He treats additional skills as possible means of escape or survival 8.

Childbearing

Meng Zhou can become pregnant despite being male. A mark on the sole of his foot signified this ability at birth, but disappeared before his wet nurse took him outside, allowing Jiang Yao to keep it secret 20.

• Li Wenle diagnoses the pregnancy and supplies medicine to support it 20 21.
• Meng Zhou conceals his condition by avoiding examinations and presenting his medicine as treatment for other ailments 21 32 35.
• Li Wenle estimates the pregnancy at three to four months when he informs Jiang Yi 49.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Dagger: A gift from Chu Huaiyin, selected for its exceptional sharpness and carried in Meng Zhou’s boot. He uses it to cut his belt during the Qianyang Lake disaster, then buries it before returning as Guan Jiasheng 10 23 27 28.
• Disguise supplies: Costumes, makeup, and boot lifts used for infiltration and identity changes 23 27.
• Medical book: Given to him by an eccentric old traveler. Liu Yixiu uses its teachings to save Guan Jiasheng; Meng Zhou later offers the remaining half alongside an opportunity to become an imperial physician 25 47 49.
• Pregnancy-supporting medicine: Prescribed by Li Wenle, initially taken once every two days and hidden at the Jiang residence 21 29.
• Prayer beads: The Guang’en Temple abbot gives him beads he has worn for decades, consecrated for protection 40.
• Protection pouch: Jiang Xin’s gift containing a talisman purchased for twenty taels. It later becomes an object of mourning when Meng Zhou is presumed dead 23 25.
• Bestowed residence: Granted by Chu Huaiyin to house his mourning hall; later proposed as his household after restoration of his identity 25 45 49.

Relationships

• Chu Huaiyin — Patron, sovereign, and lover. Their shared investigations develop into affection, but Chu Huaiyin’s protectiveness repeatedly conflicts with Meng Zhou’s need for independence. Meng Zhou conceals their pregnancy from him 11 21 46 49.
• Jiang Yao — Mother of the original Meng Zhou. Her suffering motivates his revenge, while her deathbed oath and concealment of his childbearing ability shape his choices 3 20.
• Jiang Yi — Maternal uncle and Nation-Guarding Grand General. Accepts Meng Zhou as his nephew and becomes protective of him, particularly after learning of the pregnancy 24 46 49 50.
• Jiang Xin — Maternal uncle whom Meng Zhou rebukes for gambling away the family’s resources. Meng Zhou’s intervention prompts him to resume martial training and take responsibility for the household 6 23.
• Wet nurse — Trusted caregiver and one of the original keepers of his birth secret. She supports him after the pregnancy diagnosis and helps maintain the claim that the recovered corpse is his 3 20 25.
• Meng Fushan — Father of the original body and the principal target of Meng Zhou’s familial reckoning. Meng Zhou condemns his treason rather than asking Chu Huaiyin to spare him 3 10 38.
• Lady Zhou and Meng Huaihan — Abusive members of the Meng household. Lady Zhou targeted Jiang Yao and her unborn child; Meng Huaihan drowned the original Meng Zhou and later arranged the drugging scheme 3 9 20.
• Meng Huaidao — Elder half-brother who generally ignored the abuse. Meng Zhou distinguishes him from the others, but refuses his private offer of five hundred taels and an apology 8 9 22.
• Li Wenle — Physician and confidant who diagnoses the pregnancy, provides discreet treatment, and later informs Jiang Yi 20 35 49.
• Guan Jiasheng — Official whose identity Meng Zhou assumes to investigate their attackers. After surviving treatment, Guan returns and exchanges identities with him 27 47.
• Afu and Old Madam Guan — Help sustain his Guan Jiasheng identity; Afu accompanies his return, while Old Madam Guan permits the impersonation to continue 27 43.
• Lin Yue — Pregnant widow whom he rescues from drowning and shelters while investigating the actions of her husband’s clansmen 33 35.

Notable Quotes

“To find an enlightened ruler and serve as a general or chancellor.” 11

“Your concern for their livelihoods is a blessing to Great Wei, and what draws me to you.” 11

“I will prove my ability.” 11

Trivia

• The abbot of Guang’en Temple named him Zhou at Jiang Yao’s request, eighteen years before his attempted entry into the monastery 14 40.
• He is especially fond of fish; even while pretending indifference, the smell of grilled fish draws him over 12 14 15.
• After leaving the capital, he considers supporting himself by writing storybooks adapted from the many scripts he memorized as an actor 24.
• He sells one of Chu Huaiyin’s supposedly thousand-year-old ginseng roots for seven hundred taels rather than consuming it 20.