Meng Yao

Meng Yao / Jin Guangyao is the older half-brother of Jin Zixuan, Jin Ling's father.
Therefore, Jin Guangyao is Jin Ling's paternal uncle.
During Jin Ling's parents' lifetime, he treated him well and practically spoiled his nephew. The text explicitly notes that their relationship had previously been quite good.
knigochei.org
Jin Guangyao even gave Jin Ling a spirit dog, Fairy.

Before the main events, when they are already connected with Jin Guangyao, their relationship is more partnership-like and pragmatic than friendly.

Meng Yao sees a dangerous yet useful talent in Xue Yang. He understands that Xue Yang is cruel and unpredictable, so he tries not to treat him like a mere subordinate.

Xue Yang, for his part, doesn't feel the usual awe for Meng Yao. He can indulge in sarcasm and brashness he wouldn't allow himself with most people.

At the same time, there is a certain mutual understanding between them: both are quite smart and are well aware that the other is capable of unpleasant things.

Meng Yao is able to keep Xue Yang within bounds, channeling his abilities where they are useful. Xue Yang agrees to cooperate as long as it serves his interests.

There's no real friendship or warm affection between them. They are connected primarily by mutual benefit, though Meng Yao is capable of appreciating Xue Yang's usefulness and abilities.

Meng Yao differs from Xue Yang in that he usually acts calculatingly and secretively, while Xue Yang is much more impulsive and enjoys breaking other people's rules.

They can be thought of as a "cunning strategist + dangerous executor." Meng Yao tries to keep the situation under control, while Xue Yang is someone even Meng Yao prefers not to underestimate.

They know each other from past events, but they don't become close friends. Wei Wuxian is generally quick to spot unusual people, and Meng Yao knows how to make a good impression.
Meng Yao likely viewed Wei Wuxian with interest and caution. Wei Wuxian is very free-spirited, straightforward, and doesn't fit well with clan rules—it's difficult for such a person to maintain normal social masks.
Wei Wuxian might have been kind to Meng Yao, especially if he saw him as someone who was being unfairly humiliated because of his background.
However, Wei Wuxian is perceptive enough to notice that behind Meng Yao's gentle demeanor lies a much more complex person.
Meng Yao could be a little envious of Wei Wuxian: he was able to act openly, go against the grain, and still have people who loved and accepted him. For Meng Yao, who was accustomed to constantly monitoring his behavior, this was almost the opposite of a lifestyle.
Another interesting point: Wei Wuxian and Meng Yao are both highly intelligent and capable of thinking outside the box, but they use their intelligence in completely different ways. Wei Wuxian is more likely to take action and improvise, while Meng Yao prefers caution, calculation, and diplomatic maneuvers.

They come from very different circles. Jiang Cheng is the heir to a major clan, while Meng Yao, at the time, is still particularly aware of his status as a man of humble origins.
Jiang Cheng might have been wary of him. He himself was quite hot-tempered and outspoken, so Meng Yao's diplomacy and secrecy might have seemed suspicious to him.
Meng Yao was likely very polite to Jiang Cheng. He's good at understanding people's situations and would hardly have entered into conflict with him unnecessarily.
However, there's no particular emotional connection between them. Jiang Cheng doesn't become the same person for Meng Yao as Lan Xichen or Nie Mingjue.
Interestingly, they can both be quite sensitive to humiliation and the attitude of others, although they express it in completely different ways: Jiang Cheng often reacts openly and harshly, while Meng Yao hides his emotions behind politeness.
That is, their dynamics are more like: “polite acquaintance + caution + lack of deep trust.”

They knew each other through Nie Mingjue. Meng Yao served alongside Nie Mingjue, so it was inevitable that he would cross paths with his younger brother.
Nie Huaisang likely treated Meng Yao much more leniently than his brother. He himself wasn't considered particularly strong or talented, so he was better able to understand Meng Yao's situation.
Meng Yao could treat him with patience and cautious sympathy. Huaisang posed no immediate threat to him and did not treat him with arrogance.
They share a curious similarity: both have a knack for appearing less significant than they actually are. But before the main events, this doesn't necessarily seem like a deliberate act—especially on Huaisang's part.
The difference between them is significant: Meng Yao actively strives to rise and achieve recognition, while Huaisang prefers to keep a low profile and allows others to underestimate him.
Therefore, their early interactions can be imagined as calm, polite, and somewhat cautious. They are not as close as Meng Yao and Lan Xichen, but there is no initial hostility between them.
To put it simply: Nie Huaisang could see Meng Yao as a rather pleasant and capable older acquaintance, and Meng Yao as Nie Mingjue's younger brother, who was much easier to communicate with than Nie Mingjue himself.

Lan Xichen treats Meng Yao with genuine kindness. He doesn't look down on him because of his background and is one of the first to truly see him as a person worthy of respect.
Meng Yao values ​​this relationship greatly. Lan Xichen becomes someone around whom he doesn't have to constantly prove his worth.
There's mutual trust between them. Lan Xichen tends to see the good in Meng Yao and believes his words. Meng Yao, for his part, treats him with great respect and affection.
Their personalities complement each other well. Lan Xichen is calm, gentle, and open, while Meng Yao is cautious, secretive, and accustomed to calculating situations in advance.
This is precisely why their story is particularly tragic. Meng Yao becomes very close to Lan Xichen, and so the subsequent events are perceived by him not simply as a political conflict, but as a profound personal betrayal.

At first, Meng Yao and Nie Mingjue have a respectful and almost mentor-like relationship.
Nie Mingjue treats Meng Yao better than many other members of the higher clans. He values ​​his abilities and courage, and Meng Yao, in turn, sincerely respects Nie Mingjue as a strong and straightforward man. For a time, Nie Mingjue even trusts him enough to allow him to be by his side.
But there is a fundamental difference between them:
Nie Mingjue is straightforward, hot-tempered, and guided by his own sense of justice.
Meng Yao is cautious, diplomatic, and prefers to act covertly.
Nie Mingjue gradually begins to suspect Meng Yao and criticize his methods. For Meng Yao, Nie Mingjue becomes a figure of respect, fear, and guilt all at once.
Their relationship ultimately becomes one of the most tragic lines in the story: Meng Yao doesn't just see Nie Mingjue as an obstacle—he actually once respected him and was indebted to him.

Appearance:
Meng Yao is a young man with a graceful, rather refined appearance. He has long dark hair, usually pulled back and neatly styled, and soft, delicate features. His appearance has a calm, almost benevolent quality. As a member of the Jin clan, he often wears luxurious golden robes and a distinctive headdress bearing the clan crest. Overall, his appearance gives the impression of being well-mannered, noble, and harmless.

He is highly intelligent, observant, and calculating. Meng Yao understands people well and is able to adapt to circumstances. At the same time, he is incredibly ambitious and capable of acting harshly when he deems it necessary.
A key character trait is his strong need for recognition and respect. Because of his background, he often faces disdain from others and strives to prove his own worth. Therefore, his kindness can be combined with caution, secrecy, and a tendency to manipulate.
However, reducing him to a simple "villain" would be too simplistic: he has affection, gratitude, and the ability to genuinely care for certain people. It is precisely this combination of gentleness, intelligence, resentment, ambition, and cruelty that makes him such a complex character.