Pursuit of Jade

"YOU WERE A GOOD PIG IN THIS LIFE, BE A GOOD PERSON IN NEXT " FAN CHANGYU/ WEI CHANGYU

I like every character in this drama, even when they make mistakes, their intentions are understandable. Still, I have to admit the last episode made me cry. I don’t know why they cut the scene where Lord Li sees the twins of the main couple and remembers his old friends, if they had kept that from the novel, I would’ve been in pieces.
OVERALL SOLID 10/10
I felt bad for Sui Yuanqing, Wei Yan, Wei Yuan, and even the 13th Lady, but I grew to hate Qi Min. At first, I thought he was a tragic character, but his later actions made me despise him even more, especially when he destroyed Lord Changxin’s family, the very people who had raised him.
About our LEADS : YAN ZHENG/ XIE ZHENG X FAN CHANGYU/ WEI CHANGYU
I loved their chemistry and their love. I adored the moment when Yan Zheng said, "Anybody can be prince consort except Xie Zheng, I only love you in this lifetime." I admired their yearning for each other, how they supported and trusted one another without any misunderstanding, and how they were both strong generals.
I also liked Lord Li and Sui Yuanqing’s blind trust in his family, even his troublesome brother. He was a good person, at least for his family.

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Not perfect, but deserving.

I have read the novel before and this was announced to be mymade into drama adaptation and I am thankful for the production who have chosen ZLH and TXW as the heroic duo because I am expecting a lot.

Every single plot has already been used hundreds of times. Simply because the concept is similar doesn’t mean the execution will be the same, just like what they did to The Legend of Female General, that was half baked for me and I still have a nightmare from it. Theres also many short dramas using this theme.

But what differentiate between this and others, of course high/large scale budget with premium actors, of course it changes the game. I love the Lian's village environment when they have no big conclicts,of course noisy aunties/gossipers, and some provoking people like Changyu's uncle/auntie, foul gossip grandma kang, song and his mother😂😂😂😂, her 5 debt collectors /hometown buddies, smart transmigrator Qianqian jiejie, and so on. Thankfully theres also countless good characters that make my days such Zhao family who going through thick and thin with her and many more that i lost count. The cutie Changning too🥰 she is too cute and lovable.

Yes disturbing characters like Qimin, Suiyuanqing so on..

Its only March but this has to be one the best dramas for me and until another dramas can top this, this will be timeless for me.

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Pretty Privilege and Biggest disappointment

This drama is the perfect example that if you are beautiful or handsome you can get away with anything. What I mean is this drama is getting 10/10 because is Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei if not that it would be at most a 7/10.


I am all for female centric drama only if it’s believable. Fiction does get to a point. Lol they had the butcher girl defeat a season general in 2 strikes . If I had not read the tags would have thought it’s a cultivation deal and she has some mysterious powers.Taht was the first flow

Second is the story line . What was this drama even about . Revenge? War? Politics ?Romance? you couldn’t two because it struggled to grasp one or two concepts and stick to it . It was everywhere and nowhere at once .

Talk about the Feared Marquis of Wuan lmao what a joke. Not even one serious fight scene to show his power but hey the butcher girl is killing everyone 2 weeks after joining the army .


I have a lot to say but in conclusion this a drama that can only be rated 10/10 by a teenager or a fan girl who only cares about looks because that’s all there was to this drama . THUS WHY I SAY PRETTY PRIVILEGE AND BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2026

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This Drama Has Me in a CHOKEHOLD — A Story That Stayed With Me

I fell in love with this drama from episode 1... and honestly, I didn’t expect that at all. This isn’t even my usual genre, but Pursuit of Jade completely pulled me in.

Everything about it just works. The acting is superb... every actor delivered and truly brought their characters to life. You can feel the emotions, the struggles, and the growth in each performance. The characters themselves are so well-written, and their development throughout the story is incredibly satisfying to watch.

The plot is engaging and keeps you hooked, with a story that never feels dull. Every episode adds something meaningful, and I found myself wanting more every time.

The production quality is also top-tier. The CGI is impressive, and the action scenes are executed so well... they feel intense and immersive without looking overdone. And the main leads? Their visuals are absolutely stunning. I couldn’t take my eyes off them... they add so much charm and presence to every scene.

I haven’t felt this way about a drama in the same genre since Prisoner of Beauty, and that says a lot. Pursuit of Jade really surprised me in the best way possible.

If you’re hesitant because it’s not your usual genre... just give it a try. You might end up loving it as much as I did.

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You can cast the boy out of a cinnamon role, but you can’t cast the cinnamon roll out of the boy.

The first twenty of so episodes of this drama are very good. It totally fulfils the “fit for purpose” specifications of a historical action romance. There’s a whack of very good chemistry, sweet romantic interactions, some deliciously dastardly baddies, a couple of kick arse women, lots of good supporting roles and a plot that meanders along with enough in it to keep you on your toes.

Admittedly there’s the obligatory total suspension of disbelief required in some areas, not least of which concerns our reputedly ruthless hero, Xie Zheng played by Zhang Ling He. Sorry, but however much he frowns and barks: looks like a cinnamon roll, is a cinnamon roll. I’m probably going to be pickled in brine and strung up to cure for this remark, but then again, I’m known for saying it like it is, so—I genuinely think he was miscast. He simply doesn’t have the hard edge of suppressed emotions to pull off tsundere, which is what this role required. But I have to admit he makes a perfect, sweet, romantic lead.

You know when someone has been working too hard with not enough sleep, because the plot gets infected by fevered dreams and all types of ridiculousness follows. Look, I’ve watched a lot of dramas and I’m prepared to accept a heap of wince-making unbelievable situations before I totally give up on something that I decided to review. But starting about half way through, the shenanigans around false identity and military procedure got way beyond the rolling eyes and LOL stage and had me banging on the pause button and going off to do anything other than endure any more of it. I did my best not to give up and it was an excruciatingly close call. Episode 26 was the low point and I did think if anything else happens, I’m out. If you’ve got a strong enough stomach to survive that episode on top of what comes before it, then the rest is plain sailing, if a little predictable.

Until the last couple of episodes that is, which were badly edited and try to solve too many plot lines at once in a disjointed hash of scenes that don’t have enough time to really impact properly. Some of the plot lines needed more support earlier to be tied in properly. The unfolding of mystery should be a procession of tempting tasting dishes that lead you to the finale and is not best served by starving everyone then slopping everything on a plate at the end in an as-much-as-you-can-eat buffet, followed by pie in the sky to finish it off.

The prize for the most romantic line, sweetly delivered in a love scene goes to Xie Zheng for “Every morning I woke up to the sound of you slaughtering pigs.” And the prize for the sexiest psychotic villain that I’ve seen in a long while goes to Deng Kai for his portrayal of Sui Yuan Hai. Irresistible…

So it’s a very compromised rating, the start is an 8, the middle is a 5 and the end is a 7 which I’ve balanced out to a 7 overall.

Edited to add: Oh, I've just discovered, to my great amusement, that I align with the official Chinese government line on Zhang Ling He's portrayal of Xie Zheng! There's always a first time...LOL.

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Chasing Jade: Beauty That Fades Too Fast

I went into Chasing Jade expecting more than just eye candy; not only because of the cast or inviting trailers, but because the director’s previous work, Blossom, proved that beautiful shots and an engaging story could coexist. That drama didn’t just look gorgeous; it had real stakes, characters that felt alive, and a story that pulled you in. I hoped for the same here: a historical drama that could balance stunning visuals with a compelling narrative.

At first, it seems like it might deliver.

The drama is aesthetically stunning. The sets, flowing costumes, soft lighting… every frame feels polished, almost like a carefully bottled perfume. Early on, subtle tension hints at deeper intrigue. The premise — a young woman weighed down by responsibility crossing paths with a troubled nobleman — promises romance, political games, and layered storytelling.

But the longer it goes on, the more that promise fades.

I don’t mind long dramas. If the pacing works and the story earns your attention, I’ll happily sit through 40, 60, or even 80 episodes. Here, though, the story often feels stretched and unevenly balanced. Some scenes linger without adding insight; others rush through developments that deserve space. There’s enough material for a rich, multi-threaded narrative, but it isn’t arranged in a way that makes every episode feel earned.

More importantly, the drama struggles with its identity. At different points, it leans into military war, slice-of-life, romance, political intrigue, and revenge — but never fully commits to any. In trying to be everything at once, it dilutes its own impact; what should feel layered instead feels fragmented.

The story itself often feels loose and uneven. Characters shift without enough buildup, motivations are unclear, and emotional beats rarely hit. Sometimes the plot feels oversimplified, with choices that don’t always make logical sense, making it hard to stay invested. Glimpses of connection between the leads exist, yet the chemistry rarely reaches the immersive tension one hopes for in a long-format drama. Even with compelling side characters, subplots sprawl without cohesion, contributing to the sense that the story appears more complex than it actually is.

Chasing Jade is like a perfume that smells heavenly in the bottle — it promises richness and intoxication — but when you actually breathe it in, the scent doesn’t linger as long as you want it to. You want to be enveloped by it, you expect to be transported, but the lasting impression is lighter than anticipated.

There’s a wider pattern in long-format mainstream dramas lately: so much focus on visual polish, marketing hype, and mass appeal that the story often becomes secondary. Even moments with potential are surrounded by filler, overly filtered visuals, or rushed plot points.

That all said, credit where it’s due: the cinematography is genuinely beautiful, the cast visually striking, and the music fits the tone perfectly. There are moments where everything aligns to genuinely draw you in and remind you of the drama’s potential — but these moments aren’t consistent enough to carry the whole.

By the end, I found myself less invested than expected; I wasn’t fully rooting for any of the characters, and even the shift toward partnership between the main leads comes too late and feels lightly developed, leaving little lingering impact.

6.5/10. I’d still recommend the show for its cinematography and visuals (the main reason I kept watching), but if you want a story that flows and truly grips, you might end up never quite catching that jade.

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Amazing combination of actors, story and cinematography

I haven't given a perfect score for a drama in a long time until Pursuit of Jade comes along. The story is nothing special, which I believe have been done in various dramas here and there, but the execution is excellent. I have to give kudos for the director and casting director. All actors and actresses seemed made for the role and they acted very well. The chemistry between Zhang Ling He and Tian Xi Wei is through the roof! I am now officially a fan of Zhang Ling He - I'm already a fan of Tian Xi Wei from New Life Begins. The cinematography is excellent, pace is just right and plot is easy enough to follow. The best part is, there's a lot of funny moments and all looks natural. I am a long time watcher of c-drama and now found new fans of cdrama in my community because of Pursuit of Jade LoL.

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Strong start, weak ending

Initially, I was a bit hyped for this. The plot seemed interesting and the starting arc of the series kept me waiting for the continuation episodes.

If the series was mainly about the first arc of the story, I'd rate it a solid 8/10. The visual aspect is done well throughout the series. You can truly see the best sides of the main actors in this series.

The episodes in the first arc were well paced, established the characters well enough to keep me invested, and the tragic fate that befell her village was a good setup for the upcoming episodes.

For me it truly peaked in the episode where she beat the general in two strikes. After that, it went downhill. As others have mentioned, the quick rise in rank on the battlefield, made absolutely no sense. It makes even less sense that she would be placed into that position, even if it was a 'plot' by the opposing sides in the court.

I'm not gonna delve into the main plot, because while it was interesting to guess where it would lead in the beginning, the breadcrumbs you picked up throughout the series, just made it all bland.

I liked the portrayal of the king. He came of as a puppet king, which he acts out well.

Personally, I wanted it to actually focus more on her growth as a up and coming general.

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Pursuit of The FL Whom The Screenwriter For No Reason Suddenly Turned Into An Background Wallpaper

This drama started brilliantly. The entire 1st half and world buildup in Lin'an was done perfectly to the T. I was really invested in the story, and Changyu was brilliantly portrayed and written. She had nice fighting scenes and her character progressed nicely. The cinematography was just breathtaking. The main leads had natural chemistry and companionship. Later as the story progressed and Changyu found out about the real identity of the male lead, the writing became rushed and Fan Changyu's character was compromised. The screenwriter spoiled the consistency and character progression in FL's character for the comedic relief and that is something I am utterly disappointed with. Furthermore, her own journey towards becoming a female general was absolutely butchered. Her character regressed and as a viewer, I could not relate to her becoming a general at all. It did not feel natural to me due to the writing. The writing and character progression of her character was sidelined and towards the end, I felt like she was just a general in name only and was reduced to an wallpaper who is the love interest of the ML. The screenwriter gave too much time in the first half and later rushed to compress everything together. The casting though was brilliant and everyone performed brilliantly. Overall, the first half was a beautiful watch and the 2nd half was a decent watch only due to the mindblowing cinematography of the director.

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