Lady Xiao Lin

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Lady Xiao Lin (小林氏)
Alias(es)	Young Madam Lin
Species/Race	Human; later a vengeful spirit
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Zhao Manor; Lin Family
Occupation/Role	Zhao Ming's wife; mistress of Zhao Manor; Ji Chan's maternal aunt
Status	Deceased; crossed into the underworld after exacting revenge 21
First Appearance	Chapter 5 5

Background and History

Lady Xiao Lin was a concubine-born daughter of the Lin Family and the younger sister of Ji Chan's mother. Though the sisters never got along, they maintained contact. In her youth, she reportedly admired the future Marquis of Jinyang, causing enough gossip that she was soon married to Zhao Ming, then a second-rank jinshi scholar. Zhao Ming later used the Lin Family's connections to remain in Shangjing and rise to a fourth-rank Censorate post. 5

She regarded her marriage as fortunate: Zhao Ming appeared attentive, and their household had no concubines. Her relationship with Zhao Ming's parents was hostile, however. When they brought a woman into the household as a prospective concubine during a period when Lady Xiao Lin struggled to conceive, she expelled both the woman and her in-laws. Zhao Ming later apologized and claimed to have sent his parents and the woman away, preserving Lady Xiao Lin's faith in him. 9

After Ji Chan was cast out by the Marquis of Jinyang's household, Lady Xiao Lin took an interest in her niece's situation. Her help was mixed with calculation: she tried to arrange a high-status marriage for Ji Chan—even as a concubine—to benefit the Zhao Family. Yet she also gave Ji Chan two hundred taels for clothing and incense ingredients, supplied festival ornaments, and brought her to the Flower Festival to display her to potential suitors. 6 10 11

During her final pregnancy, Lady Xiao Lin became increasingly unwell, craved fish compulsively, suffered disturbing behavior and hallucinations, and was frequently angered by disputes with Zhao Wenyue. Zhao Wensheng secretly fed her Yifu Fish to prevent the birth of another son, while Zhao Wenyue gave her a jade hairpin capable of altering its wearer's personality. 10 14

Lady Xiao Lin ultimately died after cutting open her own abdomen in a state of terror. Her death was the result of Zhao Ming's scheme to remove her and secure the inheritance for his hidden son with Su Yao; Xue Mingtang carried out the killing with a Snow Needle Snake and erased the evidence. 14 20 22

At her funeral, Zhao Ming arranged for Daoist Master Jingyun to seal her soul in her coffin. The sealing subjected her spirit to prolonged torment, but a cool incense eventually restored her consciousness. A white fox helped her remember her death and enabled her to return to Zhao Manor as a vengeful spirit. 18 20

On the night of her revenge, Lady Xiao Lin possessed Zhao Wenqi—the hidden son of Zhao Ming and Su Yao, whom the Zhao Family had adopted after her death. Through him, she killed Old Master Zhao and Old Madam Zhao, confronted Su Yao, exposed Zhao Ming's betrayal, and killed Zhao Ming. Ji Chan then helped her cross into the underworld. 20 21

Personality

Lady Xiao Lin was ambitious, status-conscious, and intensely concerned with advantageous marriages. She rejected Xue Mingtang as a match for Zhao Wenyue because he was only a sixth-rank official and a widower, preferring families of greater rank and stronger connections. 5 9

She was sharp-tongued and quick-tempered, particularly when challenged by Zhao Wenyue or confronted with Madam Xue. Her blunt insults often caused public scenes, but she believed she was protecting her daughter's interests. 5 11

Her care for Ji Chan was similarly conflicted. She viewed Ji Chan's beauty as an opportunity for the Zhao Family, but she was also the only Lin relative shown to seek Ji Chan out and provide material help after her banishment. 6

Her devotion to Zhao Ming was built on deception. Even after years of conflict with his family, she believed him to be an unusually considerate husband. Discovering his affair, hidden child, and role in her death transformed her grief into consuming resentment. 9 20

Abilities & Skills

Vengeful Spirit Manifestation

After recovering her memories, Lady Xiao Lin became a resentful ghost sustained by hatred toward the Zhao Family.

• Her resentment manifested as black energy after she remembered that Zhao Ming had murdered her. 20
• She could drift through the sealed rooms of Zhao Manor and observe the living without being detected. 20
• Her clarity weakened as the incense sustaining her consciousness faded; she had only one night to pursue vengeance. 20

Possession

Lady Xiao Lin possessed Zhao Wenqi during her revenge.

• She took control of Zhao Wenqi's body at midnight while he slept. 20
• She spoke through him in her own voice and retained full awareness of her identity and grievances. 21
• She explicitly intended not to harm Zhao Wenqi, treating him as a vessel rather than a target. 21

Supernatural Violence

While possessing Zhao Wenqi, she wielded lethal force against the Zhao elders and her enemies.

• She immobilized Old Master Zhao and Old Madam Zhao, preventing them from escaping. 21
• She levitated and controlled a wooden stool to crush Old Master Zhao's legs and attack Old Madam Zhao. 21
• She summoned a dagger into Zhao Wenqi's hand while confronting Su Yao. 21

Associated Items

• Jade hairpin — Given to Lady Xiao Lin by Zhao Wenyue; it could alter the wearer's personality. Lady Xiao Lin wore it constantly except while sleeping, but it disappeared after her death. 14 15
• Funerary soul-sealing talismans — Daoist Master Jingyun used a ritual to seal her soul inside her coffin, leaving her trapped and tormented until her consciousness was restored. 18 20

Relationships

• Zhao Ming — Husband. Lady Xiao Lin believed he was devoted to her, unaware that he maintained a relationship with Su Yao and arranged her death to secure Zhao Wenqi's inheritance. She killed him during her revenge. 9 20 21
• Ji Chan / A Chan — Maternal niece. Lady Xiao Lin attempted to use Ji Chan's beauty for a beneficial marriage alliance, but also gave her money, clothing, and support after her banishment. Ji Chan later aided her passage to the underworld. 6 10 21
• Zhao Wensheng — Eldest son. His resentment of his mother's favoritism led him to feed her Yifu Fish to prevent the birth of another son. 6 14
• Zhao Wenyue — Daughter. Lady Xiao Lin favored her and fiercely opposed her marriage to Xue Mingtang. Zhao Wenyue gave her the personality-altering jade hairpin, contributing to the circumstances of her death. 5 14
• Zhao Wenqi — Zhao Ming and Su Yao's hidden son, adopted into the Zhao Family after Lady Xiao Lin's death. Lady Xiao Lin used his body to enact her revenge but spared him deliberate harm. 17 20 21
• Su Yao — Zhao Ming's mistress and mother of Zhao Wenqi. Su Yao replaced Lady Xiao Lin within Zhao Manor after her death and was confronted and tortured by her spirit. 20 21
• Mama Sun — Loyal attendant. Mama Sun cared for Lady Xiao Lin during her pregnancy, delivered financial help to Ji Chan on her behalf, and fiercely mourned her death. 5 6 15
• Old Master Zhao and Old Madam Zhao — Parents-in-law. Lady Xiao Lin resented them for previously attempting to bring a concubine into her marriage; after her death, their acceptance of Su Yao and Zhao Wenqi deepened her hatred. She killed them during her revenge. 9 20 21
• Xue Mingtang — Zhao Wenyue's desired match and Zhao Ming's associate. He helped Zhao Ming murder Lady Xiao Lin using the Snow Needle Snake. 5 22

Notable Quotes

“I remember, Zhao Ming killed me. They killed me—the Zhao family!!!” 20

“Of course, I want you all to die.” 21