Pursuit of Jade

During a snowstorm, Fan Changyu, a butcher's daughter, encounters Xie Zheng, a fallen nobleman who was heavily injured. Orphaned and determined to lead her household, Changyu works as a butcher to support her family, while Xie Zheng hides his true identity as Marquis Wuan as he plots revenge for a sixteen-year blood feud. With their own goals in mind, the two agree to 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 a frail and sickly scholar. However, he is the Marquis of Wu'an, who is burdened with the blood feud of his family's massacre. He hides his identity in the city as the contract husband of Fan Changyu, using his gentle and forbearing appearance to deceive people. But he is secretly investigating the truth of his family's tragedy and plotting revenge. • Tian Xiwei as Fan Changyu • Zhao Yiqiao as young Fan Changyu : A feisty and resilient butcher with superhuman strength, she enters into a matrilocal marriage with the down-on-his-luck marquis to protect her family business. Later, when war begins, she goes to the battlefield and eventually becomes a brave and skilled warrior. 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 • Ren Hao as Li Huaian / Wen Kan • Li Qing as Gongsun Yin • Yu Zhongli as Qi Shu • Yan Yikuan as Wei Yan, Prime Minister • Lu Yong as He Jingyuan • Guan Yunpeng as Qi Sheng, Emperor • Lin Muran as Sui Yuanqing Others Qingping County 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 Villagers • Liu Lin as Madame Zhao, Fan Changyu's neighbour • Yue Yang as Uncle Zhao, Fan Changyu's neighbour • Zhu Zanjin as Song Yan, Fan Changyu's former fiancé • Li Dianzun as Jin Yuanbao, gambling house owner • Fu Miao as Madame Song, Song Yan's mother • Wu Yijia as Man Wu, Jin Yuanbao's subordinate • Sun Kai as Man Cang, Jin Yuanbao's subordinate • Gao Qingchen as Man Di, Jin Yuanbao's subordinate • Xiao Lu as Lady Chen, owner of Tailor Shop • Zhao Xiru as Fu Ling, Yu Qianqian's maidservant • Zhu Zhongjin as Li Deqin, chef of Yixiang Restaurant • Wei Chenfei as Madame Yin, noodle shop owner • Ning Xiaohua as Guo Dali, butcher Villagers • Feng Jun as Granny Jin, Jin Yuanbao's grandmother • Xie Zecheng as Young Master of Wang Ji Braised Meat • Pang Jing as Shopkeeper Luo, pawnshop owner Government Office • Du Chun as Wang Chuanxian, Constable Head • Xiang Xia as Magistrate Cui • Shang Qi as Cui Qianjin, daughter of Qingping County Magistrate ==Episodes==

One of the most noted aspects of this show's reception is the extent to which it engages the "femme gaze," a prominent element as well in the director's (Zeng Qingjie) prior work. The Pursuit of Jade's inverted fairy tale plot structure includes a supernaturally strong female main character and supernaturally handsome male main character. Moreover the beauty of the lead actor, Zhang Linghe, is throughout the 40-episode series emphasized 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 Dream Of The Red Chamber's character, Jia Baoyu,. The series was successful on both Tencent Video and iQIYI. However, the series 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==