Reviews

“I’ll Butcher Pigs to Support You”

Episode 5 of Pursuit of Jade kicks off with an explosion of tension, passion, and a little bit of theatrical creativity. To fool Chang Yu’s ever suspicious aunt and uncle, Xie Zheng takes the lead and stages quite the convincing act using their silhouettes behind the curtain, making it look like the newlyweds are consummating their marriage while the nosy relatives peek from outside. Meanwhile inside the room, the reality is far more restrained but no less electrifying. Chang Yu and Xie Zheng stand incredibly close, the kind of close that makes your heart do jumping jacks. When Chang Yu mentions that he is sweating, Xie Zheng casually tells her to take off his clothes, and suddenly the air in the room feels ten degrees hotter. I am not even going to lie, that scene had so much tension packed into it that I felt nervous and giddy at the same time. If this is the level of chemistry they have now, I just know that when this couple eventually gets serious, their kiss scenes and future romantic moments will be the kind that set the internet on fire. Beyond the sizzling tension, the episode also shows Xie Zheng’s thoughtfulness when he helps confront Song Yan and his mother and demands that they repay the debts they owe Chang Yu. That moment was deeply satisfying to watch. Song Yan and his mother are so ridiculously prideful just because Song Yan is a scholar, constantly belittling both Chang Yu and Xie Zheng as if social status equals moral superiority. I honestly cannot wait for the day they discover that the man they look down on is actually the legendary Marquis Wu’an. Talk about the ultimate plot twist slap. One moment that really surprised me in this episode was when Chang Yu tells Xie Zheng that she will butcher pigs to support him. I never thought the sentence “I’ll butcher pigs to support you” could sound romantic, but somehow it does here. Butchering pigs is hardly a glamorous job, especially for a woman in that era, and yet Chang Yu says it with complete sincerity, willing to shoulder the responsibility without asking him to work. That level of loyalty and straightforward devotion hits deeper than any flowery love confession. Honestly, even I fell for her in that moment, and I am saying that as a girl. The smaller domestic moments were equally charming, especially the interactions involving Chang Ning, whose presence adds warmth and lightness to the household dynamic with Chang Yu and Xie Zheng. On the plot side, we also learn that Xie Zheng has been secretly communicating with Yin Gong Sun through a messenger bird, reminding us that beneath the quiet village husband persona lies a powerful man still connected to a much larger world. The episode also reveals another name he goes by, Xie Jiu Heng, adding yet another intriguing layer to his identity. Between the romantic tension, the comedic family confrontations, and the hints of the bigger political story still brewing in the background, Episode 5 feels like the calm before an even more exciting storm. And honestly, I cannot wait to see more of Xie Zheng and Chang Yu as their relationship continues to grow.

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Crutch Fighting, Secret Hairpins, and Cheek Kisses

Episode 4 of Pursuit of Jade is basically a festival of cuteness with a side of charisma. The episode opens with a scene that instantly reminds us why Xie Zheng is the Marquis of Wu’an even when he is injured and leaning on a crutch. While the debt collectors return to snatch Chang Yu’s house deed, Xie Zheng calmly sits there and helps Uncle Zhao and the neighbors fight them off. Watching him land impactful blows using only his crutch while barely moving was ridiculously cool, and honestly, Zhang Linghe sells the moment with so much quiet confidence that the whole scene feels both heroic and funny. The fight itself leans more toward comedy than brutality, with the village men and the debt collectors clumsily scrambling around, which makes the sequence oddly entertaining. After the chaos settles, the tone shifts into heart flutter territory when Chang Yu tends to Xie Zheng’s wounds that reopened during the fight. The tension in that scene is chef’s kiss. The camera angles, the lighting, the silence between them, and those lingering looks all slowly dial up the emotional pressure. Tian Xiwei delivers such a touching moment here, especially with her big teary eyes when Chang Yu realizes that Xie Zheng protected her property deed despite still being injured. One thing I genuinely appreciate about the writing is how balanced the characters feel. Chang Yu is not portrayed as academically brilliant, and that actually makes her more believable and human, while Xie Zheng being highly intelligent and strategic fits perfectly with his status as a marquis. Their strengths complement each other rather than overlap. A particularly moving moment comes when Chang Yu is rehearsing how she will defend her house deed in court against her uncle. Exhausted, she falls asleep on Xie Zheng’s hand, and in her sleep she murmurs, “Mom, I’m tired,” with a tear slipping down her face. That moment hit me right in the feelings. Chang Yu always appears cheerful, tough, and capable, but this scene reminds us that beneath all that strength she is still a young woman forced to shoulder the burden of supporting her younger sister alone. I almost teared up watching it. Then the episode swings right back to romance when Song Yan, Chang Yu’s former fiancé, arrives with the audacity to propose that she become his concubine. Xie Zheng wastes no time tossing him out and immediately switching into pretend couple mode with Chang Yu. Soon after, Chang Yu impulsively kisses Xie Zheng on the cheek, startling him so much that he instinctively returns the favor with a kiss of his own. This moment already appeared in the previews and now I see why it became iconic. The awkward surprise on both of their faces is priceless. I was absolutely screaming during that scene because their chemistry was off the charts. The way they instantly fell into the act as if they shared one brain cell and one soul was hilarious and adorable. Later, Xie Zheng retrieves money from his people at the library and even redeems Chang Yu’s hairpin that her late mother left her. That moment subtly highlights the stark difference in status between them. Xie Zheng is genuinely shocked when Uncle Zhao explains that such a small amount of money could sustain a family for one to three years, and Xie Zheng even wonders if he miscalculated. It quietly reveals just how poor Chang Yu’s environment is compared to the world Xie Zheng normally lives in. What follows is pure adorable energy as Xie Zheng tries to return the hairpin without letting Chang Yu know it came from him, which honestly had me laughing. Chang Yu’s excitement about trying on the inner garments her friend prepared for her wedding night was another charming touch that made the whole lead up to the wedding feel lively and playful. What I love most about this couple is that they are not love fools and definitely not a case of love at first sight. Yes, sparks appear here and there, but the emotional tension grows slowly and naturally. Even when romantic moments happen, both of them approach it with a mix of maturity and awkwardness that feels very genuine. Their pacing just works for me. The wedding itself is brief but sweet, and the icing on the cake is Song Yan’s continued attempts to win Chang Yu back, which add a nice layer of comedy to the story. If Episode 3 planted the seeds of something deeper, Episode 4 waters it with charm, humor, and a whole lot of heart.

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Is it really fate?

First of all, hands down to this series.About this ep, at first I felt like the drug scene was too much since I'm not a fan of writers using drugs as an excuse, but I liked the way they showed Vicky asking for reassurance the morning after and overall it helped the police raid the bar.I do feel bad every time Tara hides something from Vic- whether about her father, about her childhood, about the club meeting- part of the plot makes me think of Petrichor, where they worked together to uncover the murderer, but in this case instead of joining forces she is doing her investigation behind Vic's back.Only 1 ep left: Vicky doesn't know Tara is Looknam, she doesn't know her dad has cancer, she doesn't know Tara suspects Vic's dad is involved in murdering her dad...So 1 ep for Vicky's trust to be broken then gained back, by the two people she cares about the most.Heavily recommend watching Heart Code!

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When the “Dead” General Hears His Own Praise

Episode 3 of Pursuit of Jade feels especially heartfelt, picking up right where the previous episode left off with Yan Zheng boldly telling Chang Yu that he is willing to become her matrilocal husband. What I really enjoy about their dynamic is how the drama lets their feelings grow slowly, like a simmering pot rather than instant fireworks. Chang Yu is clearly smitten, and honestly who wouldn’t be when the man looks like that, but she keeps her emotions in check because her priorities are firmly planted in reality: earning money, protecting her family’s assets, and keeping life afloat. On top of that, she genuinely believes she has nothing to offer Yan Zheng, so the last thing she wants is to drag him into her complicated life. Yan Zheng, on the other hand, feels warm, trusting, and a little soft when it comes to her, though at this stage I read his feelings more as gratitude mixed with fascination rather than outright love. He is intrigued by her uniqueness. A pig butcher who is strong, capable, and skilled in martial arts? That alone makes Chang Yu stand out like a rare jade in a pile of stones. The big reveal in this episode is that Yan Zheng is actually Xie Zheng, the Marquis of Wu’an, the general who leads the army. Scholars criticize him as a ruthless killer, but the soldiers and common people clearly respect him, which already hints that his reputation depends on who is telling the story. One of the most touching moments happens when Chang Yu, believing Xie Zheng to be dead, sets up a memorial tablet to honor him. It is the kind used to commemorate the deceased, and the sincerity behind it really hits hard. She does this without knowing that the very man she is honoring is standing right there beside her. When Yan Zheng casually asks what she thinks of Xie Zheng, Chang Yu praises him wholeheartedly, recognizing both him and his father for their sacrifices and their dedication to protecting the people and the dynasty. The way she speaks feels like she is voicing everything Xie Zheng probably wishes the world understood about him. That scene genuinely moved me, and I would bet it moved him just as much. It feels like the exact moment when something shifts inside him. For perhaps the first time, someone sees and understands him without him needing to prove anything. The cinematography adds another layer to this scene too. The frame is beautifully split between warmth and coldness, with the side holding Chang Yu and Xie Zheng bathed in warm tones while the outside world sits in cooler hues. The visual contrast quietly mirrors the emotional warmth forming between them against the harsher world beyond that moment. On a lighter note, the scene where Chang Yu measures Xie Zheng for his wedding outfit is pure gold. Chang Yu starts off flustered and nervous, while Xie Zheng tries to stay composed but ends up looking slightly awkward himself. It is the kind of cute awkwardness that makes you want to grin at the screen. This episode also introduces two new characters who are searching for Xie Zheng. They come very close to finding him but leave just before things can get interesting. Talk about near miss drama. The episode closes with the debt collectors returning while Chang Yu is away, strongly hinting that Xie Zheng might step in and handle them in the next episode. If that happens, I am ready with popcorn because something tells me those collectors are about to regret knocking on the wrong door.

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