[He is a man desperate for acceptance - for love. Meng Yao has fought to find his place in the world - a place where he won't be mocked or pitied. Despite his upbringing - or maybe because of it - his pride is brittle, likely to fracture at the smallest slight.

And it obviously had fractured. Mingjue is a man who believes in justice; of course he couldn't accept what Meng Yao was doing. To him, it would be abominable. But for Meng Yao, it was necessary.

It was a desperate cry for love.]

I am ashamed of my weakness. [He looks away from the books, biting his lip.] It hurts me even more to know it was that very weakness that led to you -

[His throat closes on perishing.]

If you see the warning signs, I trust you to do what is necessary. I don't wish to harm you or Huaisang or Xichen or anyone else.