Pursuit of Jade () is a 2026 Chinese television series directed by Zeng Qingjie. It stars Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei. It is based on the web novel Zhu Yu by Tuan Zi Lai Xi. On 6 March 2026, it was released worldwide on Tencent Video, iQIYI, and Netflix.
The series was a massive international success. Within one week of its broadcast, Pursuit of Jade recorded heat indexes exceeding 31,000 on Tencent and 10,000 on iQIYI. Upon its release, the series debuted at number six on Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English Shows chart.
Synopsis During a snowstorm, recently orphaned Fan Changyu encounters Xie Zheng, a fallen nobleman who is heavily injured. Changyu works as a butcher to support her family and help Zheng recover. Xie Zheng hides his true identity as decorated general Marquis Wu'an as he plots revenge for a sixteen-year blood feud. With their own goals in mind, the two enter into a marriage of convenience that grows into genuine love.
Cast and characters Main Zhang Linghe as Xie Zheng / Yan Zheng Zhou Yige as teen Xie Zheng Ruan Yunji as young Xie Zheng On the surface, Xie Zheng is the frail live-in husband of Fan Changyu. However, he is hiding his identity as the Marquis of Wu'an, burdened with the blood feud of his family's massacre. He uses his gentle appearance to mislead the villagers while secretly investigating the truth of his family's tragedy and revenge. Tian Xiwei as Fan Changyu Zhao Yiqiao as young Fan Changyu A feisty and resilient butcher, Changyu enters into a matrilocal marriage with the injured Xie Zheng to save her family's house. When war begins, she enters the battlefield and becomes an acclaimed and decorated general.
Supporting Kong Xueer as Yu Qianqian The owner and manager of Yixiang Restaurant. She has a son named Yu Bao'er. Deng Kai as Qi Min / Sui Yuanhuai Xie Zimo as young Qi Min The first-born son of rebel Prince Changxin, he harbors a deep secret and a desire for power. He is very possessive of Yu Qianqian. Wu Jia Jun as Yu Bao'er The son of Yu Qianqian, whose lineage his mother keeps hidden. Ren Hao as Li Huaian Also known as Lord Li, Li Huaian is the eldest grandson of Grand Tutor Li. He serves in the military on his grandfather's orders. He develops feelings for Fan Changyu. Li Qing as Gongsun Yin The strategist of the Yanzhou army, he is Xie Zheng's righthand man and closest friend. He is in love with the Grand Princess Qi Shu. Yu Zhongli as Qi Shu The Grand Princess of the realm, she is the sister to the current emperor. She longs for a life outside the palace walls and works as a medic for the Yanzhou army. She is in love with the army's strategist, Gongsun Yin. Yan Yikuan as Wei Yan The Prime Minister of the realm, he is also the maternal uncle of Xie Zheng. He leads the Wei clan, the first of two primary factions in the imperial court. Wang Jiu Sheng as Li Jing The Grand Tutor of the realm, he is also the grandfather of Li Huaian. He leads the Li clan, the second of two primary factions in the imperial court. Lu Yong as He Jingyuan Also known as General He, he led the Jizhou armies against the rebels. He was a close friend of Fan Changyu's father. Guan Yunpeng as Qi Sheng The reigning emperor, often regarded as a puppet ruler hung between the Li and Wei clan factions. Lin Muran as Sui Yuanqing The second-born son of rebel Prince Changxin, he is the crown prince of the rebel faction. Lin Siyi as Shisan Niang The bloodthirsty leader of the Qingfeng bandits, she is a fierce warrior and in a relationship with Sui Yuanqing.
Fan Family Cao Yanning as Fan Changning, Fan Changyu's younger sister Bai Liwei as Fan Erniu, Fan Changyu's father Yuan Ran as Meng Lihua, Fan Changyu's mother Gao Yuqing as Fan Daniu, Fan Changyu's uncle Li Yusu as Madame Fan, Fan Changyu's aunt
Blood-Robed Cavalry
The Blood-Robed Cavalry are elite retainers who serve the Marquis Wu'an. Distinguished by their crimson uniforms, they act as his most trusted subordinates, carrying out military operations, intelligence gathering, security, and special missions. Four are prominently featured:
Shawn Zhang as Xie Wu, commander responsible for field deployment and command operations Liu Yu Wei as Xie Qi, commander responsible for protection missions Guan Wen as Xie Jiu, subordinate member of the guard Yang He Wen as Xie Shi Yi, subordinate responsible for military operations
Lin'an Villagers Liu Lin as Mrs. Zhao, Fan Changyu's and Fan Changning's neighbor and adoptive aunt Yue Yang as Mr. Zhao, Fan Changyu's and Fan Changning's neighbor and adoptive uncle Li Dianzun as Jin Yuanbao, petty criminal turned decorated warrior Wu Yijia as Man Wu, Jin Yuanbao's comrade turned decorated warrior Sun Kai as Man Cang, Jin Yuanbao's comrade turned decorated warrior Gao Qingchen as Man Di, Jin Yuanbao's comrade turned decorated warrior He Changxi (body), Zhu Zanjin (face) as Song Yan, Fan Changyu's former fiancé Fu Miao as Madame Song, Song Yan's mother Feng Jun as Granny Jin, Jin Yuanbao's grandmother Zhao Xiru as Fu Ling, Yu Qianqian's maidservant Xiao Lu as Lady Chen, owner of a tailor shop Wei Chenfei as Madame Yin, owner of a noodle shop Zhu Zhongjin as Li Deqin, chef at Yixiang Restaurant Ning Xiaohua as Guo Dali, rival butcher Xie Zecheng as a young shopowner for braised meat Pang Jing as Shopkeeper Luo, pawnshop owner
Government Office Du Chun as Wang Chuanxian, constable head Xiang Xia as Magistrate Cui of Qingping County Shang Qi as Cui Qianjin, daughter of Magistrate Cui
Episodes
Soundtrack Part Title Artist Lyricist Composer Notes English Chinese 1. "Careful with Fate" 我对缘分小心翼翼 JJ Lin Vincent Fang JJ Lin Theme song 2. "I Searched For Him A Thousand Times in the Crowd" 众里寻他千百度 Zhang Bichen Xin Qiji Dong Dongdong 3. "Clear as Me" 清清如我 Yisa Yu Chen Xi 4. "Road Ahead" 前路 Huang Xiaoyun5."What's Done is Done"木已成丹Zhang Yuan6."A Single Thought"一念Zhang Zining, Li Xinyi7."Rising Storm"风云起Xu Hebin
Release Pursuit of Jade was released worldwide on 6 March 2026 on Tencent Video, iQIYI, and Netflix. On 8 March 2026, it was released on Dragon TV.
Reception Rating The series recorded heat indexes exceeding 31,000 on Tencent and 10,000 on iQIYI within one week of its broadcast. Upon its release, the series debuted at number six on Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English Shows chart.
Critical and public response The drama was praised for its engagement of the "femme gaze," a prominent element in director Zeng Qingjie's prior work.Pursuit of Jade Deep Dive, What the Fiction podcast, April 5, 2026, https://open.spotify.com/episode/7EcqXcET7rZvE7rzoFXe3D?si=azYhv2h4R_agoENYFZJHYQ The series received praise for its an inverted fairy tale plot structure with a supernaturally strong female main character and a supernaturally handsome male main character.
Chinese magazine CNA Lifestyle noted that beauty of the lead actor, Zhang Linghe, is emphasized in both in the dialogue as well as filming choices, in ways that are specific to its genre of Chinese drama and that resonate with historical Chinese idealized forms of masculinity, such as the novel Dream Of The Red Chamber's main character, Jia Baoyu.
While the series was highly successful, it also faced some mockery and criticism from critics, social media and some official publications, regarding the male lead character's visual appearances, especially during battle scenes. The military newspaper People's Liberation Army Daily noted the male lead character's visual appearance as "excessively softened and deliberately refined, with some even wearing rouge and powder." The social media post of the propaganda office of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party stated that such images could have "an adverse impact on the aesthetic and cultural values of young people." On the other hand, official broadcaster, China Central Television, was among the broadcasting and media outlets that gave praise to the series.
References
External links at IQIYI