Pursuit of Jade (Chinese: 逐玉) 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.
Contents
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
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. 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.