Pursuit of Jade

Not without flaws but still very enjoyable and highly addictive

'Pursuit of Jade' lived up to the hype imo (mind you it's not always the case) and I'm glad I managed to complete this one without feeling bored or for 'the sake of finishing it because I invested too much time to drop it'

First I want to apologize in advance for the review that will probably sound more like a mix between ranting, vent out feelings, comparisons yada yada and less like a proper review solely centered around POJ...still bear with me🙏

I'll rather talk about director's past work 'Blossom' (how it compares to it and a bit of ranting) but also recent releases or older titles dealing with the same theme or why I didn't feel as much frustrated or betrayed as some people by the shift and the 'unrealistic growth'/character development of Fan Chang Yu.
Why? The main reason is that I'm used to it. Most C-dramas and novels are female centric (mostly romance genre and idol shows) and tend to overpower/glorify/give all the credit to the FL while male actors have to be simps/green flags, take a backseat and serve as a tool to prop up the heroines even if it lacks common sense or is borderline unrealistic (they will make up to the audience *mostly ♀️* in casting visually attractive actors totally devoted to the FL and it works!)
That's why I recommend people who wants male characters to shine to watch Male Centric Dramas (Mysterious Lotus Casebook comes to mind *masterpiece* or 'The Blood of Youth' trilogy)

Those points below are the strength of this drama (it kinda helped me overlooked some minor flaws)

¤ The undeniably strong and sizzling chemistry between the leads (but also the cast)

Unlike 'Blossom' whose leads' chemistry fizzled out over time (post marriage to be exact), Zhu Yu successfully kept the sparks alive till the end and also gave the rest of the cast a chance to shine. Pig butcher Squad, Grand Tutor Tao Yi, Mr and Mrs Zhao, Changning, Grand Princess, Gongsun Yin, Xie Wu are all memorable characters (I even shed a tear for Mrs Kang's death😢)

Some people were even questionning and wondering if our heroine Fan Chang Yu really loved Xie Zheng as much as he loved her? I'm baffled tbh because she has proved countless times he was one she couldn't live without and even drugged him to replace him on the battlefield (it was indeed clumsy writing but also proof of her love in the end)...and when she found out he was the Marquis, how devastated she was because not only he lied to her but she also felt very unworthy of him due to the difference in their status. Tian Xi Wei 💯 nailed her role. Love her smile, her crying scenes, her feisty personality and fighting spirit. She did justice to Fan Changyu.

Want a FL not caring much about his love interest/even trampling on his dignity/handling his affairs or stealing his spotlight??? Watch any Yu Zheng's productions *with the exception of 'The Double'* ( 'Glory' with Gulnazar and Hou Ming Hao or 'Perfect Match' with LYX and WXY *hated the unbalanced dynamics in both works* ) or 'The Glory' with Chen Du Ling and Xin Yun Lai (Ok,main genre wasn't romance but the ML was just there, sticking out like a sore thumb and taking FL's anger out on him whenever she loses it..)

I like for my main CP to have an equal and balanced relationship. I also appreciate when the supporting cast nicely complement the leads like a huge warm family (examples: 'The Prisoner of Beauty' and 'Coroner's Diary' that I tremendously enjoyed last year)
Some also regretted the violent nature of Fan Chang Yu (slaps, shouting), her portrayal didn't sit well with many...but I see plenty of those same people giving sky high scores to shows where FL or female character act this way or even worse.
Did you watch for example 'New Life Begins'? (another Tian Xi Wei's work) Do you perhaps remember Yin Qi/5th Prince and Shang Guan Jing? That pairing was used mostly as comic relief but I felt uncomfortable watching them. Domestic violence is a no no in my book...there's nothing funny or empowering about it. Imagine the genre reversal!

¤Villains here were compelling, charismatic and most of all well-acted compared to 'Blossom'

Side-eyeing Song Mo's little bro here (waste of time and the actor didn't have the chops to portray such a role imo)
Can't believe they gave more screentime to that two-faced brat instead of Ji Yong who was a much better and interesting character (+ Xia Zhi Guang has the acting chops at least)
Others were unremarkable and didn't leave a deep/lasting impression. I know if I feel pity or sad for the character despite their evilness/vileness, that's a good sign they nailed their role (that's how good and impressive Lin Mu Ran's performance was to me *so young yet so talented*)

Deng Kai, Lin Mu Ran, Yan Yi Kuan did an amazing job portraying their characters. Showcasing nuance, charisma and perfect body language.

They all got their due comeuppance in the end (except for Grand Tutor Li who basically got away scot free with just 'the exile' of his entire clan *they didn't deviate from the novel for that* Me naively thinking at first he died from a heart attack...

¤OST is superior to Blossom imho
Memorable, catchy and beautiful.

¤ Acting-wise, the ensemble cast was weaker in Blossom imo (except for Li Yun Rui, Li Xin Ze and underutilized Quan Yi Lun, Ye Zu Xin and lastly Xia Zhi Guang (despite being tagged as second lead)

To be fair Ren Hao was supposed to be second lead but his screentime decreased with each episode (just like XZG in Blossom). Though I love Deng Kai and only have good things to say about his performance, I still feel that production made a mistake in giving his character this 'fool in love' personality. It was fun, sexy and captivating at first but it got very old in the end. Chemistry with Kong Xue Er was pretty good but her acting is lacking compared to him (she was the weakest link imo)
Another regret is that they didn't give much spotlight to Qi Shu and Gongsun Yin's romance. I really liked their characters and hoped for more tbh (kinda disappointed on that front)
l also deplore the lack of screentime and how underutilized Zhang Ling He's character was in the final product but like I said earlier in my review, I'm not surprised...that's the fate of most male leads in female centric shows. Still he did his best with what he was given (love how he conveys his feelings through his eyes and I tell you no one is as intense, sensual, sexy during love scenes than him)

¤ Pacing Issues and Underdog VS Most anticipated drama

It's a bit hypocritical to accuse/blame 'Pursuit if Jade' for its weak second half when Blossom had basically the same problem (post marriage, the drama lost its steam and inconsistencies started to show *Song Han's arc anyone?* or Dou Shao's 'know it all' personality was also unlikeable at times)

Truth is BOTH suffered from pacing issues and weak second half imo. But great acting, compelling villains and top tier chemistry between the leads (and the whole cast) give an extra edge to 'Pursuit of Jade' imho.

Why the stark difference of treatment between the two though?
The only explanation I could come up with is➡️ one was one of the most anticipated drama of 2026 while the other was a surprise hit and blackhorse of 2024. POJ's leads already had successful works under their belt and got their breakthrough roles before the release of this drama while the others were stuck in supporting roles for years. Blossom's popularity literally changed the trajectory of their career (both enjoyed a boost thanks to this drama and are now leading their own dramas)
Stakes were different. POJ is a high budget drama (S+ tier) with popular leads while Blossom was mid-budget (A tier) with relatively new/fresh faces ( no experience in lead roles)

That's probably the reason why people were more lenient with Blossom (low expectations)and harsher with POJ (high expectations). Plus, Zhang Linghe has a lot more antis and his fandom can also be very vocal...if they judge there's assassination of his character (minimizing his scenes or reducing his screentime), they will call out the production and bombard sites with negative reviews.
I'm a casual ZLH fan (almost watched all his shows) and while I'm not entirely satisfied with how they handled his character, I can agreeably say that they didn't do him dirty as much as in 'Our Generation' for example imo (I was genuinely disappointed and upset there)+ his off-charts chemistry with Tian Xi Wei kinda made up for it and made me more forgiving in the end (TXW is up there with Xu Ruo Han and Bai Lu chemistry-wise)

For further understanding of what I really feel about 'Blossom', this user is perfectly mirroring my thoughts⬇️

https://kisskh.at/profile/caramelspillzz/reviews

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Totaly in love with this drama!

The first half was everything I didn't know I needed. Watching Xie and Fan slowly fall in love felt natural—tender, unhurried, and deeply satisfying. I loved that she was strong enough to stand on her own, and I loved even more that he was always there, quietly watching, but never stepping in unless she truly needed him. There was something beautiful about that.

The humor caught me by surprise. I laughed out loud more than once. The falcon became an unexpected favorite, and their little found family warmed my heart. I loved their pig butcher squad—it really showed how they became a family and always took care of each other. Gongsun was a delight—always teasing him about being a married man. And Qian? Her story stayed with me. Qi Min played her possessive partner so well. It was messy and painful, but I loved that the drama didn't sugarcoat it. Sometimes love is toxic, and this one showed that honestly. And the children? They brought such lightness. Every scene with them felt like a small gift.

I was hooked from episode one. Twenty episodes flew by like nothing. The costumes were stunning, the fight scenes were insane, and I literally finished the whole thing in two weeks because I couldn't stop watching.

It took me a few episodes to recognize who was who, as the characters all looked quite similar at first. But I got there eventually, and finally understood the court intrigues.

If I have one regret, it's that the drama was too short. I never thought I'd say that, but an extra10 episodes would have given the story room to breathe. The second half felt rushed at times, as if certain moments were brushed past too quickly. I'm grateful they took their time in the beginning—that slow pace was where the heart of the drama lived.

The ending caught me off guard. I didn't expect to feel for the villains, but I did. When you think about it, just a few minutes of your live could changed everything. And when the truth came out about what happened 16 years ago? I was crying. The glimpse of what could have been broke my heart.

I'm going to miss Xie and Fan. Their chemistry was undeniable, their pairing unforgettable. This one left a mark.

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THE SUI BROTHERS STOLE THE SHOW

This show was something I had been waiting for for more than a year. I was so eager to watch it that I couldn't believe it was finally happening. I remember watching the first five episodes and thinking how good the show was. I really like how they portrayed Changyu; she was a breath of fresh air, a female lead that I liked a lot.
As the episodes were dropping, I got more and more hooked; I really liked the Lin'an Arc. During that period, the ML's scandal broke, and somehow it threw me off. I continued watching, but the feeling wasn't the same. All in all, it affects my viewing experience when I realize an actor is a nasty or classist person.
I really loved all the characters, especially Changyu and Changning. I thought both actresses were excellent in their portrayals, and I still believe that, despite the fact the character development didn't suit my taste.
As I said, the Lin'an Arc and the first episodes of the war (until she discovers the Marquis's real identity) were the best part of the whole series. I think those episodes showed the realness of Changyu. Later, when she miraculously kills Shi Yue, the whole story starts to fall apart. Why? It's Changyu’s first time on a battlefield, yet she is able to kill someone in two strikes who even generals couldn't defeat. And later, she manages to kill Lord Changxin, another important character, after just a few sparring sessions with her husband? Really? When she is appointed Flower General and enters the Court, I couldn't recognize the Fan Changyu from the beginning.Also, there is a part where she could lift huge baskets of rocks, but she couldn't save Qianqian and Qi Min at the same time? There is no consistency in the writing.
Also, I think the Marquis's character doesn't show the real power they want us to believe he has. Three times Sui Yuanqing flees from him; only when he battles with his uncle can we glimpse his power.
As I said in the title, the Sui brothers were the ones who made me stay. I hate the characters, but they were greatly performed by their actors. I never romanticized the relationship between Sui Qimin and Qianqian; that was pure abuse. Regardless, I didn't want Qimin to die, but based on how the characters were written, it was the most logical and satisfying end.

Deng Kai and Kong Xue Er need to do another series together where they end up together and he is not an asshole. That chemistry is wasted in this series with its forced love.

This series needed more than 40 episodes to develop Changyu's character believably and to better explain what happened 17 years ago.

Also, it doesn't make any sense at all: in the alternative ending, Changyu is Zheng's cousin. But she is the daughter of Wei Qilin, not Wei Yan. Wei Yan decided not to fall in love again after the consort died in the fire. While it’s good to see what the uncle-nephew relationship could have been in the alternative ending, Changyu wouldn't have been born at all since her father was Wei Qilin, not Wei Yan.
My comments from almost every episode:
Ep. 1: I already adore the FL.
Ep. 2: That law where only males can inherit property is disgusting. But hey, for the sake of the plot: marriage of convenience!
Ep. 3: Love you! She makes him pay respects to his own epitaph.
Ep. 4: I’m dying at the trial practice.
Ep. 5: I don't like the new girl; she’s way too classist.
Ep. 6: What scumbags, making up that lie about killing the uncle just to keep the house.
Ep. 7: Justice is a joke here, but the show is so good.
Ep. 10: I adore the sisters—the falcon moment and the part where he tries to get mad at her but just can't.
Ep. 11: Both side couples are so promising.. So sweet to see the falcon return and how happy the sister is.
Ep. 12: The second villain, Qi, is insane and we love it. Gosh, I’m in love with him in every scene. He’s super toxic and a total red flag, but I’m colorblind so I don't see anything.
Ep. 14: Manager Yu’s kid is just as smart as his mom, lying about his birthday.
Ep. 15: I bet it’s the psycho who’s doing that stuff to the restaurant.
I spoiled myself and know what happens to the psycho at the end :( we hate spoilers.
Ep. 16: Love you Fan Changyu, punching Wei Xuan. Wei Xuan won't reach the level of worship we have for the supreme psycho, but hey, we like him—and not because of what he does. Why are all the villains so charismatic and handsome? It’s hard not to root for them.
Ep. 17: That ending with the psycho WOW
Ep. 18: Super sad episode with the whole massacre. Fan Changyu, YOU ARE A QUEEN, the whole neighborhood is yours. That final scene with the Marquis, when he sees her there and looks like he's having a heart attack—YES.
Ep. 19: The beginning when he’s saving her—such a beautiful scene. We don't like the psycho anymore; what he’s doing is pure abuse. It’s a shame they wasted such chemistry making him a creep. Save the sister, please!
Ep. 20: We hate the psycho, there’s no redemption for him.
Ep. 21: "During this time, have you ever thought of me in the middle of the night?" "Yes, in my nightmares." "Better than nothing." We loathe him, but at least we know his backstory and how he fell for her.
Ep. 22: It's so messed up to destroy the dam and sacrifice people just to kill more enemies.
Ep. 23: Using AI for the flood scene looks ugly. He’s CRAZY, killing his nanny. The scene where he rescues Manager Yu was interesting because he knows she wants to kill him too. Fan Changyu, you’re wonderful; you gain a new fan every episode.
Ep. 24: The reunion between them and the sisters was gorgeous. Also, the moment with Changyu, the Princess, and the Marquis was hilarious. Plus the part where they clear out the shop for "privacy" while the advisor and everyone else are outside eavesdropping.
Ep. 25: Hilarious scene: the enemy downstairs, the Marquis in front, and Changyu on the other side beating up the heir. And the punishment scene makes total sense, otherwise, it would be chaos without someone giving orders. When they threaten to strip the heir and a rebel asks, "Is this the Marquis's strategy?" ABSOLUTE CINEMA.
Ep. 26: The beginning was so funny; I expected to see the hits and wow, so good. It’s a crime where they ended the episode.
Ep. 27: Such a beautiful ending.
Ep. 28: He is so in love with her. Poor Xie Wu has to deal with so much gossip and awkward moments. The psycho was the Crown Prince? I'm dead.
Ep. 29: Finally we know the psycho's story. Qi Min is realizing he's in love with her, but don't think Qianqian escapes the crazy guy that easily.
Ep. 30: We’re learning about the past and who the father was, it’s marvelous. I love the psycho's planning, and the "little villain" was right when he massacred the whole family. Though the cousin was dumb as a rock. Sad that Mandi died, he was a pro. We knew Lord Li was no good. I love that they’re giving more screen time to the Sui brothers; honestly, I’m not a big fan of the Marquis.
Ep. 31: Everything with the teachers and when she ignores the imperial decree is hilarious.
Ep. 32: Lord Li is a scumbag and we all knew it. So intense seeing Qi Min kill his adoptive mother and the whole past reveal. The Little Villain finally woke up and knows who the real enemy is. I'm falling more in love with Deng Kai every day; you can't be doing these roles! Since she found out he's the Marquis, the show has gone downhill a bit; they're rushing the remaining plot. If there were more than 40 episodes, it would be better. No doubt.
Ep. 33: Loved the post-credits scene. The Little Villain died and it made me so sad; however, the "Sui brothers" scene was 10/10—that ending for the Little Villain was magnificent. Lord Li is a traitor, or rather his grandfather was, and now he has to pay for his grandfather's deals. Finally, the Princess marries Gongsun; it took a while but I loved the proposal. OH THE KISS between Fan Changyu and the Marquis, THE KISS!
Ep. 34: The whole episode was about seeing how useless the Emperor is and the two factions: the opportunistic Li and the dominant Wei. Changyu was wonderful in the ministers' hall and in front of the King.
Ep. 35: Qianqian wakes up and the psycho says "finally you’re awake" (internally Qianqian is like: I'm awake, but at what cost?). The Li faction is, as the Marquis said, a bunch of opportunists.
Ep. 36: What an episode. All good scenes. I loved the drinking game between the psycho and Qianqian.
Ep. 37: Pretty funny that while offering the sword, he says it’s for killing dumb officials. What happened at the banquet was crazy. The Grand Tutor conspiring with the Emperor to frame the Marquis and Marchioness—they almost killed the Princess! And drugging the Marquis with an aphrodisiac, my god. Poor eunuch.
Ep. 38: The psycho doesn't get that you can't force love. It’s going to hurt seeing him die. The bathtub scene was nice, doing the yin-yang. Xie Wu and Mr. Jin's scene was super funny.
Ep. 39: Sad, the psycho is dead. It feels a bit weak that Prime Minister Wei gives up so easily.
Ep. 40: The psycho doesn't die from the fall but from Qianqian poisoning him? I'm shocked. Qianqian is a transmigrator and isn't going back to her world? The Emperor being a 7-year-old kid is funny to me. In this alternate ending, it makes no sense for Changyu to be born from her aunt. Besides promoting incest, she wouldn't even have been born, and the charm of Changyu is her origins—origins that got quite blurred since she went to war. Qianqian and Qi Min fulfill their promises; in the main story, Qianqian says she’ll poison his soup and that’s how Qi Min dies, and on his deathbed, he says that in an alternate world he wouldn't go near her—and it’s proven by the vomiting even though he’s happy to see her.

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instant ICON: Raising the bar for historical cdrama!

updated after finishing it , no spoilers :)

it starts with waw! not a single detail is missed!
from the first second, we are invited into the warm world of fan chang yu , despite everything cold around her.

it takes a lot to execute a story so perfectly... huge respect and shoutout to the director of this show!
nothing was left behind: amazing light, angles, audio design, its slow when it should, fast when it should, fights scenes are not neglected nor too much, script is amazing, storyline is classic but so well done! nothing is overly explained, the flow of this show is insanely good! mind you, there are some tropes, but the actors have pulled them off brilliantly so far that it doesn't feel scripted.

the Main leads are very talented but i think they truly shine in this one ! Fan chang yu is really a beautiful and raw character that is already so nuanced, fl is portraying her so well! XZ is also so nuanced but we havent seen everything about him yet.

this show is great journey !
watch how pursuit of jade will become an instant classic!

UPDATE:
Was it perfect? oh no... the plot got weaker by the last arc and screentime becomes questionnable for some characters! i am left with wanting to see more of the greatness of general FCY and the marquis...

despite everything, in the drama and real life drama around the production, main leads shined through and the story started off so genuinely attaching.

in the comments i read how, compared to other ZLH roles, this story can look less mature... more childish. it's a relevant impression I also had. but it's definitely because of the last arc and underwhelming plot tension.

All the negative elements got nothing on our main leads (and main villains although qi min couple very toxic and it was put forward more than main couple sometimes)

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Perfect! (with the usual caveats of a Chinese series)

Perfection! To sum up this series. The caveat: within the Chinese style. Too many unnecessary scenes with secondary characters, some of whom were presented in the first part of the series and after 30 eps we not even remember who they were. The good is that secondary actors are amazing in what they do and, in this series, very pretty as well. The only that they got the balance right – and even felt short- was with Sui Yuan Qing, the younger villain, amazingly played by 20 years old Lin Mu Ran.
The main leads: I follow the career of ZL and TXW so I think I can compare and speak:
ZL the best role of his career. He was soft and warm in the first episodes; such a touching performance and a sound display in acting skills toward the last 1/3 of the series particularly interacting with power house actors like Yan Yi Kuan (his uncle). He is committed in the romantic scenes – keeping his reputation as heartthrob that earned since Maiden Holmes. His beauty is a double spade sword and his reputation outside the screen as the iced cultural insensitive king could play a bit in our subconscious (e.g. watch live show The Truth), but he is convincing all the same.
TXW – is the Queen of comedy, great character female actor, one of the best in China. She delivers every time, such hardworking actor. Again, not the best in creating romantic chemistry, but ZL and TXW did enough for their characters and their relationship. I remember that in the chemistry department she was great with Bai Jing Ting, but BJT can create fire from ice cubes, similar skills is granted to actors like Bai Lu and Li Qin among others. Not everybody is that lucky.
The big surprise-gift-bombshell of this series was Deng Kai as Qi Ming, a solid secondary pro actor for years is finally given the golden opportunity of his career to shine as he deserves: he is a great actor. He posses everything: acting skills, looks, sensuality, vulnerability. He is a powerhouse indeed. His character is now iconic and is gracing covers of magazines. Luckily, he had a great acting “life partner”; an actress that brought the right energy and commitment: Snow Kong. She is probably still in the idol level of acting, but it was perfect next to him. Their sex scenes will linger in my mind for years to come. There is an in screen and outside screen warm relationship that have contributed to enhance their CP reputation; a flirty shyness between them, that kind of “I like you very much” energy that is perfect for fan service. They hardly can keep their hands to themselves in interviews and presentations. I hope they manage to keep friends at least.
Sum up: Highly recommended, 10/10 despite of the slight shortcomings, something to enjoy for everybody.

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The best Drama there ever was!

Okay, where this drama stands out is the story progression. What this drama does so well, is it creates a perfect storm within this phenomenal story. I started watching this expecting it to be just another romance….but by episode 40 I was in complete awe and rendered speachless. my favorite part was the ultimate reveal when Uncle is in the cell telling Tutor Tao his whole truth. the way he explains that in full detail knowing that 17 years ago one drunken conversation resulted in everything that we saw happening was a whoa moment for me. Also the thing on repeat that’s woven into the story too is how the driving force to a lot of the tragedy here has a lot of love at the heart of it. secretly tho I was rooting for Qi Min and Yan to really mend things too. I know Qi Min was a monster but he truly did love Yan. I thought in the end when they were in the cell and he told her he just wanted them to live happily with her by his side and she explained how he could have had that but his pursuit of the empire is what caused this. When she cried I thought….she really did love him. he was just such a monster that she felt she had no choice and did everything for their son. Greatest watch!

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Now that's what you call a wholesome drama

There are so many things that other directors could learn from this show. How to make your story gripping and engaging, how to utilise technology without being overly dependent on CGI, how to do proper editing, how to utilise actors in a way that their characters become believable. I don't remember watching any of Zhang ling He's earlier dramas and believing his characters completely, they always looked very superficial. But this time this director had other plans in mind and he gripped his character so well in a tight leash that it is completely moving the way he wants. No over the top expressions or using just the face card to make him act. You will be in awe, watching all the subtle changes in their expression and body language that even without dialogues sometimes, they are conveying every emotion with such an ease.
I am loving our FL here because her character is not all over the place. She is called brute in the drama but she is more than that. She is the exact image of a young girl that you could imagine from that era in impoverished state, without parents and struggling with the harsh realities of life. I am loving how they are not shying away from it just to make her look a perfect female character. Special mention for the child actor. I just adore every scene with her and all the village scenes and their interaction has a 'The story of Miglan' vibe a lot.
Complex political struggle is yet to unfold completely but so far it is interesting, I had no idea this show would give the best villain of all time to me. He would give you creeps. Court politics could make you skip certain scenes a little bit if you are not into that much politics but every character looks believable and have a story to tell, even the villagers and the side characters with extremely small screen time. What I loved the most is the way they used the natural lights to enhance the beauty of the scenes. Even the set design doesn't feel like as if it is a set. Costume and makeup are equally good and for me it is Zhang Ling He's best look so far. Whether it is romantic moments or any slow motion sequence playing with the scenery to amplify the presence of the character everything requires well thought out execution and all thanks again goes to the director and the actors. Whether it is romance sequence, emotional sequence, war sequence or slap sequence...cough*.... everything is top notch. It is THE best show for me of this year in all aspects.
PS: I don't remember which was the last drama where I felt a drama married couple had such a real couple vibes. I can just watch these two spending their lives in small town and doing all their daily work, forever and to all the people who think it is very slow in the beginning, the director is smart enough to take that time because he is building a world where viewers could feel the emotions of the later episodes, which is only possible if one gives proper time to all the characters. Believe me it will hit you hard when the time comes. Trust me this drama knows how to play with the feelings.
PS 2: Despite everything I still felt that this one is the best drama of yr (at least for now). My only complaint would be the way they started to cut the scenes and letting it all fall for viewers' imagination. Including Marquis' battle scenes. Towards the end I could feel how they were rushing badly and chopping the scenes to compress it all into ep. limit. The room that they were giving to breathe this world became too small in the second half. I had no problem with other leads getting a screentime but I felt our main leads needed more screentime as we got attached to their characters more. In second half, the leads were there for such a short time together or their story only became part of post credit scenes. Our over powered FL would have looked more believable if they would have given us some hint that she was a prodigy in martial arts since birth...defeating seasoned soldier in two blows was too much even for her character. More time should have been given to her character for us to believe her well deserved status of a general. But it will still be a nitpick because first half raised too much expectations. It was definitely 10/10 if not for the second half. I will still recommend this show to everyone who is into Wuxia dramas. It has definitely raised the standards for others.

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Slow, familiar... yet hard to stop watching

Not every drama needs to be loud to be remembered.
Pursuit of Jade is the kind of story that slowly finds its place, without forcing anything.
At first, it feels simple—almost too familiar.
Fan Changyu, played by Tian Xiwei, and Xie Zheng, portrayed by Zhang Linghe, come together in a marriage built on circumstances rather than choice. Two people sharing a life, yet carrying completely different worlds within them.
But as the story moves forward, it becomes less about the situation and more about the emotions growing within it.
What stands out the most is how natural everything feels. Nothing is rushed. The relationship between Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng doesn’t suddenly change—it develops through small, quiet moments. The kind you don’t always notice immediately, but somehow they stay with you.
Fan Changyu brings a refreshing presence. She is strong, practical, and grounded, never trying to be more than what she is. Tian Xiwei plays her with a sense of ease that makes the character feel real and relatable.
Xie Zheng, on the other hand, is more restrained. There’s a quiet heaviness in him, and Zhang Linghe portrays that internal conflict with subtlety rather than intensity. His emotions are not always visible, but they are always there.
Together, their story doesn’t rely on dramatic highs. It builds itself through understanding, patience, and silent support.
The drama may not be perfect. At times, the visuals feel overly polished, slightly taking away from the realism. But emotionally, it still holds its depth.
In the end, Pursuit of Jade is not about grand storytelling.
It’s about quiet connection.
And sometimes, it’s the quiet stories that stay the longest.

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《逐玉》 Zhu Yu — Honest Review

The cinematography of this drama is one of the greatest I've seen so far. The director definitely knows what he's doing and I am all for it. From the first moment Fan Changyu entered the screen to the war scenes to the end, the cinematography never falter. To me, this is what 2026 cinematography should look like. I'm not going to lie, I have watch a lot of Chinese dramas and I always think to myself how can the cinematography be so lacking when we're in the age where it shouldn't be so lacking. But this one... it was beyond magnificent.

To me, this drama was really well done. From the casting to the set to the clothing. Everything was well done. You can definitely tell that the director pour his love into making this drama for us to watch. I haven't read the book so I don't know much about the plot or the characters, but I can definitely say that everyone did an AMAZING job!

Fan Changyu —
She was a breath of fresh air. I know that a lot of Chinese dramas make the female lead weak, even if they are supposed to be strong, but Changyu, she broke the stereotype. She was blunt and arrogant but she can back it up. She was not the smartest in terms of what a woman should be in that time, but she was wonderful in her own way and I am glad that Xie Zheng never tried to change her. Her love for those close to her may lead her to do reckless things, but it comes from a good place. I know that she received a lot of criticism for drugging Xie Zheng or knocking out Li Huai'an, but she did that because she cannot afford to lose anymore people that she love and care for. She had lost so many along the way and she didn't want to lose more. Her entire village was slaughtered by a psychopath who was not only intrigued with her but also vengeful towards her. So, I can understand why she did that. To me, her recklessness actually play towards Xie Zheng's greater cause. No one, not even the enemy, expected a young lady to be so strong so they underestimated her. She killed two important people just because they underestimated her strength and well.

I love Tian Xi Wei so I went into this drama rooting for her, but I am not one to watch because of my favorite actress or actors. I started because of her but I stayed because of Fan Changyu. Tian Xi Wei did an amazing job portraying Fan Changyu. What I really love about Tian Xi Wei is her expression. Her eyes, her eyebrows, her face were able to convey what she was feeling without saying a word.

Xie Zheng/Yan Zheng —
The great Marquis of Wu'an. He was cunning and adorable, but he lacked communication. I enjoyed him as Yan Zheng though. As Yan Zheng, he was gentle, protective, and caring towards the Fan sisters and the Zhao couple. As Xie Zheng — I wished we were able to see more of Xie Zheng. I mean, even when he was Xie Zheng, he was still acting like Yan Zheng. He was the clingy, matrilocal husband. I wanted to see more of the ruthless Marquis of Wu'an. What I loved about him is that he never wanted to change her. He let her be herself throughout the entire drama. He knows that she doesn't know the military laws, so he concocted a scheme to make her understand. He was, to me, the only one who understands her.

Zhang Ling He — I first watched in Love Between Devil and Fairy and I thought that he did an amazing job there. I didn't watch his other dramas -- actually, I tried to watch his other dramas, but the storyline was not doing it for me, so I dropped them. Honestly, he was perfect as the Marquis of Wu'an. I can definitely say that his acting improved since Devil and Fairy.

Qian Qian—
She was one of my favorite character from the drama. From the beginning, she was always independent and we don't see a lot of that in dramas. What I loved about her is that she never wavered and kept true to who she was even when she was held captive by Qi Min. I wished she had a better ending than just being stuck in the palace. She only ever wanted her freedom and now she's confined within the palace walls. I hope that she had a better ending in the novel. She deserves to be carefree.

Qi Min —
I pitied him the most. He was the most tragic character in this drama. I know that a lot of people were only giving him grace because Deng Kai is handsome, but I looked beyond that. I looked into his motives, his story, and his reasons. To me, his life parallels Xie Zheng but with different outcomes.

Two boys who lost everything overnight but one was good and the other evil.

HOWEVER, I gave Qi Min grace because he was different from Xie Zheng. Yes, he lost both of his parents over night, but he was subjected to undeniably and horrible pain just so that one day he can take the throne. AND that is why I pitied him and gave him grace.

He was a man who spent 17 years of his life living as someone else while enduring so much pain. He was burnt and was treated via skin graft — which I can only imagine how painful it must be for him. He endured all of that pain just to be hated and neglected by Lord Changxin.

His relationship with Qian Qian is a suffocating, terrifying obsession born out of his own broken psyche. To me, he was so broken that just by having Qian Qian by his side, even if it meant she is going to hate him, he didn't care, as long as she was with him.

Sui Yuan Qing —
Honestly, I don't have anything against him. He did what he was told. He followed his father because his father truly believed that they are the rightful heir to the throne. As psychotic as he is, he really did love Qi Min and that to me, was his redeeming character arc.

He truly believe to the end that Qi Min cared about him and he was so broken when he realized that the older brother he loved so much had no feelings for him whatsoever.

I would love to see him fight with Changyu again. They had so much chemistry during their scenes together that I almost forgot he wasn't the male lead.

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What I didn't like —

I wished that this drama was longer. It needed more than 40 episodes. I feel that they can pull a "Love Like the Galaxy" and do a 2-part drama. I feel that the political and court scenes were reduced to make it all fit into 40 episodes. I wanted them to spend more time in the court and in the capital. It feels rushed to me.

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I loved that they went back to Lin'an. The scene where she was walking through the town and those that have died was calling her was so heartwarming. I wish that it was real. Lin'an Town lost a lot.

Overall rating: 9/10

I only gave this a 9 because of the last few episodes. I wished that they extended this drama to 50 episodes to fill in all of the political stuff and what happened 17 years ago. I really do feel that that was not fully explained. I was craving for more. I wanted to know more about what happened.

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A touchy love story

After a long time, I was completely obsessed with the story of the drama Pursuit of Jade.
Except for the ending, I liked everything about the drama. I had expected more from the ending, though it was a happy one.
I liked the chemistry between the leads: the bitter love story between Yu Qian Qian and Qi Man, the cute love story between Gongsun Yin and Qi Shu, and last but not least, the adorable pairing of the child artist.
I liked the supporting characters as well.
There were so many scenes that gave me goosebumps. One of the scenes was when he ran after her on horseback, caught her with one hand, pulled her up, and made her sit on the horse. That scene—oh my God! I had no words to describe it; it was an excellent direction.
Overall, the drama was very good.

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Entertaining

I am going to try and keep this short.

I love this drama. This is my first time watching Tian Xi Wei. Girl did amazing.
Love ZLH. Liked the secondary couple too especially Deng Kai. The entire cast have amazing talent.

Backdrop:
Aesthetically pleasing. Loved the snowy scenery in the first quarter of the drama. It really set the tone of fl's life and then seeing battle and politics in the other half ... you can see the 180 and how drastically her life changed.

What I liked:
•Fl's gradual progression to becoming what she did
•Fl's love for Ml didn't make her forget herself and her town, her people and others she cared for. Everyone had a place and importance for her.
•Fl's fighting skills
•ZLH's acting was awesome. One moment he was full of tender looks for her and then the next when there's danger or someone was interrupting, they got 'the shooting daggers look'.
•Loved Deng Kai here. Dude looked smoking hot. He was a total red flag character due to his past trauma and there is absolutely no excuses for what his character did because it was wrong but the chemistry he had with Kong Xue Er was awesome.

What I didn't like:
I definitely did struggle on the political side of the story. No lies. I might still not be understanding everything but I got the gist of it.

I felt like there were a tad bit too many characters being spoken about without actually seeing them first or getting much of a chance to get familiar with them at the beginning. I found myself may be guessing or rewinding at times but gradually understood who was who.

What could have been better:

I did find some inconsistency like Fl saying she participated in many battles etc but all in all it was 2 and she was still technically a newbie. I feel like a lot of scenes were cut so may be they did shoot more battle scenes. Some fight scenes were good but the entire final battle scene was a bit lacking. I feel like may be there should have been atleast a few epic ones with the Marquis tbh.

Well, if I feel like that then why did I rate it a 10?

Because no matter what, I still found myself glued to the screen, anticipating episode after episode and actually finished the drama which is quite a feat in my eyes. I didn't realise time was flying when watching the episodes because like what do you mean I watched 40 mins? It felt like 5 mins.

Yes, there were bits lacking but there were also bits that really made me enjoy this show. It's fictional and I reminded myself to not get stressed over these things. I'm watching it for entertainment - not for homework. However, with that being said, I don't want to watch something that's terribly made. This wasn't terrible. It was great. Not perfect but great.

Everyone has their own journey and experience and likings. You may or may not like it. You won't find out until you try it so give it a go.

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Had so much potential, couldn't utilise it fully.

UNPOPULAR OPINION!

No hate, I do think it was entertaining. But in a guilty pleasure sort of way, rather than intellectually stimulating. It had all the elements of a satisfying story, but somewhere along the way it lost sight of its purpose.

What I liked:

1. Tian Xiwei as Fan Changyu- TX is apt for the role. Her character has a "Hagrid" energy to it- Brute strength but a softy at heart. Someone who does not know her own worth at the beginning, but later realising and using it. The drama has a lot of situational comedies and she nailed her expressions in them. I hear she herself is a fitness enthusiast and it shows in her movements. She communicates well with her body language as well. I watched some of the BTS and she came across as someone very professional and easy going with charisma. I am not sure I would describe her portrayal as sensual, but that is perhaps because of the second leads in the story.

2. Which brings us to the next thing that fascinated me- The story of the second leads. Yes, it was toxic. But it was also layered, it gave off the images of desire and vulnerability clothed in pitifulness. Both leads played the part and worked together well. Kong Su'er had that sensual quality, and her character displayed intelligence. I read somewhere that her character had actually transmigrated from the future, and that shows, she displays a modern air about her. Deng Kai- Phew. He played that obsessive villain well! The whimpering, whipped, possessive madman had so much to offer.

Which brings me to the parts I didn't like:

1. Wasted storylines- The Second leads packed a lot of intrigue which was criminally under explored. Makes me think the writers actually wanted this drama to be their story, but given the toxic nature of their relationship it wasn't viable so they hid it in the larger premise. I also did not understand why every character had to have a romantic subplot. The Strategist-Grand Princess arc was well portrayed, but could have been avoided to leave some breathing room for the rest of the story. Same with the bandit boss- villain brother arc, with a scene with the cousin. They are not bad, but they made the whole thing so dense and did not feel impactful. The villain brother also had sizeable chemistry with the FL., but to my disappointment it never got explored. The story with adoptive father arc- a long scene with a lot of dialogues, which could've been either shortened, or explored in detail and connected in a larger context.

2. Pacing that destroyed character development: Everything was good initially, but so much of it was "told" rather than "shown". I get that watching idol dramas demands the viewers to suspend belief to a considerable degree, but even fictional universes obey some rules. I see that this is one of the most common complaints about this drama, even fans found it hard to believe the FL climbing up the army ranks just like that. Still, not a big red flag.

3. The Politics: Again another common complaint- I found the mystery extremely confusing. The who is who. The Why's. It is explained, yes, but in the last two episodes! Why are there so many people dying in so many fires? Anyway, my point is that there is no "main villain", instead there are many villains. and it was overwhelming. The motives were unclear, and I found it impossible to track the relationships. Uncles and nephews all fighting with each other. Also, Fan Changyu's mother is also from a General's family but that arc is also not deeply explored. It was tiring to keep wondering what is going on while the acting and the scene setup were gorgeous, affecting the viewing experience.

4. ZLH: He looks gorgeous. So good looking. But I felt he displayed a limited range of emotions, not quite convincing, but not too bad either. His story was overshadowed by the other stories, so despite being told many times that he is traumatic I did not feel the connection. Something was lacking.

I loved Blossom. This one pales in comparison. Maybe that is the problem with the people who rated this one low- they had very, very, very high standards.

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