Pursuit of Jade (2026) 逐玉
Directed by Zeng Qingjie, starring Zhang Linghe as Xie Zheng / Marquis of Wu'an / Yan Zheng, Tian Xiwei as Fan Changyu, Snow Kong as Yu Qianqian, and Deng Kai as Qi Min / Sui Yuanhuai.
Watched 22 March - 11 May 2026 — 40 episodes (KISSKH/NETFLIX)
*I started watching this C-drama out of curiosity because it was the highest rated C-drama on MDL, and it still is. Before I wanted to commit myself fully, I first watched some random scenes from episode 1 to see what the fuzz was all about and I instantly loved the OTP — they have great chemistry — and the gorgeous cinematography. The production values are truly outstanding, the costumes are beautiful (I love the clothing of our female lead Fan Changyu in the village), and the images are accompanied by a pleasant music score. Our heroine, Tian Xiwei as Fan Changyu, is feisty, very likeable and pretty, and she has a cute little sister. Changyu is also very strong, physically, and carries the male lead — Zhang Linghe as Yan Zheng — on her back, seemingly without effort. (She is a butcher of pigs, and the way she carries Yan Zheng is exactly how she carries a pig.) I liked Yan Zheng's looks, even his long hair. This is my first Chinese costume drama, so I'm not used to this male hairstyle.
*I liked the story premise with Yan Zheng and Fan Changyu entering into a fake marriage, eventually turning into true love.
*The first part set in the village is by far the best part of the series. I loved it! This drama would have gotten my highest rating if it would have stayed this way, with the same vibe. But I had already heard from my sisters that it was going to change, and I momentarily paused the series around episode 11. Even though we are still in the village and I was enjoying the show, I was already anticipating a struggle to get through the upcoming episodes. I knew a war was going to tear the main couple apart and that Changyu was going to make use of her excellent fighting skills on the battlefield, while searching for justice and her husband.
*I love the romance of our OTP, but I didn't care for the court politics. Though I tried to understand everything in the beginning, I gave up and just continued watching. The names were confusing, despite me keeping a character list handy.
*My sisters had told me about the murderous Sui brothers, and they are really something. Very ruthless.
*I love the second female lead Snow Kong as Yu Qianqian, and I was hoping for a hero to rescue her from Qi Min / Sui Yuanhuai (played by Deng Kai) and to be her new love interest, but that never happened. Instead she stayed in a toxic relationship with the 2nd male lead for the rest of the series. It was a crying shame, though, that the second leads didn't have a normal relationship, on account of Qi Min / Sui Yuanhuai being a very bad guy. They had a sizzling and exciting chemistry. Better than the leads. It was also immediately clear that the character of Qi Min / Sui Yuanhuai was beyond redemption. Hopefully someone will cast Snow Kong and Deng Kai in another drama. A romcom would be great. Please!!!
*I love Fan Changyu's bandit group (Northwest Pig Butcher Squad) and their bond with Changyu. Their leader Mr. Jin was clearly in love with Changyu, and I felt sorry for him but admired him for taking his loss and supporting Changyu's love for Yan Zheng.
*After my break from this series and picking up again around episode 11, I was pleasantly surprised how the drama continued to hook me, despite the confusing court politics and violence (there are some greatly choreographed battle scenes). So it was easier to get through than I had initially thought. Of course I didn't like the fact that our OTP was separated but the series dishes out enough thrills and drama (the horrible village slaughter!), even suspenseful moments, to keep me fully engaged.
*The show is occasionally very funny. For instance, the sequence with one of Xie Zheng's men impersonating Marquis of Wu’an, had me laughing out loud.
*The eunuch was so annoying but having his ear cut off by the Marquis was rather violent.
*Ultimately the drama was too long for me. Though I enjoyed the middle part more than I thought I would, around episodes 31/32 I was ready for a wrap-up. I found the scenes with the emperor in episode 34 tedious. Still, with the crying scene of the emperor and the eunich, and the emperor asking "Does it hurt?" (the cut-off ear), I had to laugh.
*So, unfortunately this was not the masterpiece I was hoping for. But I can understand the hype and also enjoyed most of it. It's definitely a C-drama I will remember for a long time, with a memorable OTP.
(Screenshot taken by me.)