“Pursuit of Jade” Praised for Perfect Casting

Zhang Linghe (張凌赫) and Tian Xiwei’s (田曦薇) new costume drama Pursuit of Jade <逐玉> is currently airing and has been soaring in both ratings and buzz. It not only claimed the No. 1 viewership spot on Netflix Taiwan, but also set a new high for popularity on Tencent China for 2026, while its iQIYI popularity index also broke 9,500.

Breaking Records & Winning Praise

Even before the drama premiered, Zhang Linghe’s character, the fallen noble Xie Zheng, had already drawn major attention, as have supporting male casts Kenny Yan (嚴屹寬) from I Am Nobody <異人之下> Season 2 and Ren Hao (任豪) from Missing You <相思令>.

Now at Episode 9, Pursuit of Jade continues to deliver one climax after another, with a brisk pace and favorable casting, getting off to a strong ratings start. Zhang Linghe’s portrayal of Xie Zheng has especially been hailed by viewers as the “role of his career” so far, with striking looks and a distinctive visual aesthetic achieved through lighting, shadows, and close-up shots by the director, pushing his “broken, battle-worn beauty” to the extreme. Astonishingly handsome even when injured and collapsed, he fully embodied the ethereal in costume dramas aesthetic, in contrast to the ridicule he once faced for being unattractive in period costume Tiger and Crane <虎鶴妖師錄>.

Supporting Male Cast Praised

Making a stunning entrance in a purple official robe, Yan Yikuan as Chancellor Wei exudes both the pressure and authority of a seasoned political superior as well as the restrained integrity of a scholar – winning much viewer support despite playing the villainous uncle role. The actor was also praised for his “chameleon face,” as many netizens did not even recognize that he had previously played the sickly, unhinged temp worker Xiao Zizai in another widely discussed role.

Meanwhile, Ren Hao as noble young gentleman Li Huaian saw his popularity surge thanks to his handsome looks and gentle temperament. Quietly protecting Tian Xiwei’s heroine, he remains consistently gentle and supportive despite unrequited love, earning the name the “love bodyguard” from netizens for his supportive presence. Strong casting continue to propel the drama’s ratings and popularity.

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