Mama Sun

Biodata

Background / History

Mama Sun served Lady Xiao Lin of Zhao Manor. When A Chan was released from the Mingjing Division, she waited outside A Chan's home on Lady Xiao Lin's orders, having been worried about her safety for several days. She conveyed Lady Xiao Lin's invitation and later personally fetched A Chan for visits to Zhao Manor 4 5.

She continued to assist A Chan during her stays with the Zhao household. On Lady Xiao Lin's behalf, she delivered two hundred taels for clothing and incense materials, and later brought A Chan new festival clothes, ornaments, and invitations to accompany the family to the Flower Goddess Temple 6 10.

During Lady Xiao Lin's troubled pregnancy, Mama Sun sought A Chan's advice after her mistress heard an unexplained infant's cry. She also disclosed Lady Xiao Lin's abnormal appetite for live fish, the unexplained rise of rodents and insects in the manor, and the failure of ordinary pest powder 9 10.

After Lady Xiao Lin's death, Mama Sun was present at Zhao Manor with blood on her hands and clothing. She fiercely confronted Zhao Wenyue over her role in the death, then confirmed to Bai Xiuming that Lady Xiao Lin had been wearing her favored jade hairpin when her body was discovered, though it had subsequently vanished 12 15.

The loss visibly devastated Mama Sun: by the time she informed A Chan of the funeral arrangements, she had become thin, sunken-cheeked, and more than half of her hair had turned white 16. At the mourning hall, she overheard Zhao Ming and Su Yao embracing and learned that Zhao Wenqi was their son. She later heard Zhao Ming state that someone had needed to be sacrificed so Zhao Wenqi could remain in the Zhao household legitimately 17 18.

When Master Jingyun attempted to seal Lady Xiao Lin's resentful soul inside her coffin, Mama Sun threw herself onto the coffin in protest and begged A Chan to speak for her mistress. Zhao Manor subsequently expelled her, despite Lady Xiao Lin having previously given her deed of sale and promised she could remain there in old age 18.

After leaving the manor, Mama Sun sought refuge briefly with A Chan, revealed what she knew of Zhao Ming and Su Yao's affair, and resolved to leave Shangjing for her hometown 18. Before departing, she provided A Chan with Lady Xiao Lin's name and birthdate for use in A Chan's later incense ritual 19.

Appearance

Mama Sun is an elderly woman who is ordinarily carefully groomed and neatly dressed. Grief and anxiety leave her visibly disheveled at several points, and Lady Xiao Lin's death rapidly ages her appearance 4 9 16 18.

• Warmly smiling when first meeting A Chan after her release from detention 4.
• Appeared with unpinned hair while worrying over Lady Xiao Lin's fetal movement 9.
• Had bloodshot eyes, dark circles, and an exhausted appearance during the funeral rites 18.
• Later became thin, with sunken cheeks and mostly white hair 16.

Personality

Mama Sun is deeply loyal to Lady Xiao Lin and emotionally invested in her welfare. She worries over Lady Xiao Lin's pregnancy, attempts to protect her memory after death, and reacts with fury when Zhao Wenyue admits her involvement in the tragedy 9 15 18.

She is also considerate toward A Chan. She waits for her after the Mingjing Division investigation, expresses relief at her survival, escorts her to Zhao Manor, and discreetly delivers Lady Xiao Lin's financial support 4 5 6.

Her loyalty does not prevent her from recognizing wrongdoing within Zhao Manor. After witnessing Zhao Ming and Su Yao together at Lady Xiao Lin's mourning hall, she decides the household's people have “hearts as black as pitch” and chooses to leave rather than remain in their service 17 18.

Relationships

• Lady Xiao Lin — Mistress and the person Mama Sun serves with unwavering devotion. Mama Sun remains protective of her during pregnancy, mourns her death intensely, and resists the ritual intended to seal her soul 9 15 18.
• A Chan — Lady Xiao Lin's niece. Mama Sun acts warmly toward her, relays Lady Xiao Lin's invitations and gifts, shares information about the Zhao household, and ultimately confides the truth she learned about Zhao Ming and Su Yao 4 6 9 18.
• Zhao Wenyue — Lady Xiao Lin's daughter. Mama Sun confronts and slaps Zhao Wenyue after she admits that her plan contributed to Lady Xiao Lin's death 15.
• Zhao Ming — Former master of Zhao Manor. Mama Sun loses all faith in him after overhearing his affair with Su Yao and his remarks about sacrificing someone for Zhao Wenqi's inheritance 17 18.
• Su Yao — Zhao Ming's affair partner and Zhao Wenqi's mother. Mama Sun witnesses her embracing Zhao Ming in Lady Xiao Lin's mourning hall 17 18.
• Zhao Wenqi — Zhao Ming and Su Yao's son. Mama Sun identifies him as the child whose position in Zhao Manor Zhao Ming sought to secure 18.