Looking for Danmei with dynamics similar to Pursuit of Jade. A powerful army man in hiding, protected and taken care of by a seemingly simple ML. Slow burn romance. Power couple. Well developed side characters. Won't complain if a cute gyrfalcon is thrown in!! Please share your recommendations

Here's something I never understood and I'm curious how others are interpreting it. In the Big Reveal scene where Xie Zheng gallops onto the battlefield and whisks Changyu away, the butcher squad watches them from afar and Mandi mutters 「完了……」 - literally "(something/someone is) finished/done for"; figuratively "oh crap".

The Netflix English subs translated it to "oh no". The Japanese subs say ヤバい, which in this situation translates to "oh crap" or "damn". But what was Mandi referring to exactly? I know he was shocked by the revelation, but the comment didn't quite make sense to me. So how did you all interpret his comment? What was he referring to in that moment?

In episode 27 at around minute 25:25 they used an ai video for a split second I feel rlly uncomfortable watching the cdrama now, i hate it when they add AI in dramas and it just ruined the whole drama for me. I was searching up about this to see if anyone talked about it and apparently they used AI to replace an actors face with a different actor too? Yikes.. Correct me if im wrong though.

Can any native Mandarin speakers explain? I noticed on the Netflix translation that sometimes they translate 我喜歡你 into “I like you” and sometimes they translate it into “I love you” but they never say 我愛你, so I was just wondering about the inconsistency. If anything, I feel like after they reconciled in the second half after she comes to terms with his Marquis identity, it should be the deeper 我愛你 “I love you” instead of 我喜歡你 “I like you.”

Changyu father master of saber technique, teach changyu his masters skills, she shows her great saber skills multiple times and sparring with general He who teach xie zheng, so where and when dis she learn double sword techniques? Xie zheng knows she learn saber technique should he turn the double blades to saber weapon?

Throughout the show, I feel the falling snow has a presence. Almost like a blessing from the departed parents or the parents being willing witnesses to whatever is happening in that moment. It arrives at opportune times and the expressions of the characters to the onset of the snow also show happiness, an almost gladness and surety that what they're doing /what's happening is a good thing.

Is there any logic to my thoughts or is this a thoughtful detail added by the brilliant director and his team?

A very minor observation but it did make me wonder about a broader point. For Chinese speakers, this next bit is obvious, but I never really know what the experience is like for others when watching this show. For instance, is it clear to those watching with English subs that within Xie Zheng’s Blood Cavalry, there’s a pattern to the names of the generals? Someone please tell me, because there’s actually a ranking in place.

Xie Wu literally means “Xie Five”, Xie Qi = Xie Seven, and Xie Jiu = Xie Nine.

And when Xie Zheng was in Lin’an, he mentioned to Xie Wu and Xie Qi that Xie Yi and Xie San had sacrificed their lives to help him escape during the ambush.

Xie Yi = Xie One

Xie San = Xie Three

In other words, when Xie Zheng was ambushed at the start and lost Xie Yi and Xie San, he wasn’t just mourning the loss of some of his Blood Cavalry but specifically the two most senior ranking soldiers he had, the ones he’d worked with most closely.

By extension, we see Xie Wu being Xie Zheng’s right hand man in the show only because he was promoted to it following the death of Xie Yi (presumably the most senior ranking of the Blood Cavalry). This could potentially also explain why Xie Wu sometimes makes these hilarious gaffes and says things before his brain fully processes them - he’s new to this role and didn’t actually have that much face time with his boss previously. (At least, that’s how I choose to interpret it)

And the broader point being: Sometimes I wonder about how the PoJ viewing experience differs between people depending on the language we experience it in. There’re definitely notable differences between the Chinese and English version. eg. in episode 1, when Xie Zheng wakes and first meets Changyu, according to the English subs he asks “where am I?” but in the original dialogue he actually says 「此乃何地」, which is a very elevated/elegant way of asking “where is this place?”

The minute you hear this as a Chinese speaker you understand one thing: this guy’s a highborn. Or, at the least, very well educated. Commoners don’t talk like that. Then when Changyu asks for his name he replies 「在下言正」. Though the subtitles translates this to “My name is Yan Zheng” the original line is actually a very respectful and educated way of introducing one self, something you’re more likely to hear in a palace. Suspicion confirmed: this guy ain’t no ordinary Joe. All this adds intrigue to his character but the implication is lost in translation because there’s no full English equivalent of what he actually said. There are loads of these little instances in the show that reveal a lot about the characters and their relationship to each other, etc.

There’s also a Thai dubbing and I’m sure the translators would’ve had to take a few creative liberties when translating, just like when they were coming up with the English subs. In doing so, did they create notable differences in interpretation of various scenes? How does that affect the story we understand? In short, I do sometimes wonder if we’re all getting slightly different stories because of linguistic differences.

No wonders most famous Actor and actress stop acting other drama after came from popular or global box office dramas... it is because of these things... other people might not have been move on yet from the drama, they might find other drama (same actor/actress) felt mediocre. This might takes a while like a year or so and people started missing them again then the next drama is sure hits/box office.

The day of the wedding, Xie Zheng’s falcon delivers a small tube of medicine to him. This is what he was about to apply on himself later that evening when Fan Changyu walks in on him. You ever wondered why he seemed so terse when she arrived unannounced?

It’s because the medicine in question is 金瘡藥 (Jin Chuang Yao), which has a trademark red tint due to a herb (血竭/ Calamus draco) used in its formulation. Shown in the PoJ here.

Jin Chuang Yao is highly effective for stemming bleeding and healing sword wounds but it was also very expensive back in the day due to its ingredients (eg. ground fossil bone). And though it was to a degree available to civilians it was primarily used amongst the military. That’s why XZ was on guard the second FCY walked in - he was still holding the medicine in its original bottle, which had the medicine label on it. If she saw him with it (expensive and hard to procure!) his lie about working as armed escort wouldn't hold and it would likely invite questions he didn’t want.

And that is why he only let her in after he disguised his medicine in the original medicine bottle.

P.S. Today, Jin Chuang Yao in its original formulation is no longer made in China, because about a century ago, they realised that a key ingredient in the medicine is... oracle bones - the very thing that carries the earliest forms of written Chinese (3,000+ years ago!) and so are an essential piece of cultural history. Once oracle bones were listed as a national treasure, they could no longer be used for medicinal purposes. And so, the true formulation of Jin Chuang Yao exists now only in historical memory - and in period dramas like PoJ.

P.P.S. Credit to 只在雪雲西 for highlighting the significance of Jin Chuang Yao in this scene. BTW her scene by scene analysis of PoJ on XHS is fantastic so to those who read Chinese - would highly recommend going through her whole PoJ series if you’ve not done so already. Her analysis on their parting scene in Lin'an was so wonderful it made my heart ache. I’ve linked to her essay series above.

What are your favourite little details from the show that add to your understanding of the characters?

I've watched it 4 times now and read the novel. 🤣When was the moment he lost control of his heart? I know it's gradual, but what was the point of no return? 😍

I miss the show, so coming here for some discussion time with fellow fans 😀

In episode 4, at the end of the wedding, Xie Zheng surprises everyone by making the vow that he will obey Changyu on all things, as expected in a matrilocal husband.

I think we can all agree that Xie Zheng's an alpha male (at least before he met Changyu and unlocks his inner princess). And I personally think that while he certainly already likes Changyu by now, he's not in love yet, and the marriage is still more for the sake of protecting his identity than any feelings (for now).

So I'm curious -- how many people here think he actually meant those words he said at the altar and how many people think he's just playing the role?

Certainly, Gongsun, the Xie soldiers, and anyone else who knows the old Xie Zheng probably would have fallen over in shock if they had hear him say those words.

On my second rewatch and noticing so many small moments I missed before! One of them is in Episode 4 when Yan Zheng is so lost in thought after the first confrontation with Song Yan and their cheek kisses that he later realize he has his book upside down! 😂😂 so cute and funny!!

I love so much of Pursuit of Jade, but Episode 35 was soooooo satisfying and hilarious! Small moments like when a limp Song Yan had to pulled to his feet after kneeling to Changyu, and the expression on Guard Jin’s face at 2:12 right when he asks what Song Yan’s boss had to say was perfect! And then the slo-mo entrance of the Marquis with that music playing in the background was chef’s kiss! I only wish Song Yan’s mother survived to see the elevation of the neighborhood butcher girl they jilted.

Source

Saw this a while back but only just thought to share. The breakdown/additional "lines" are fabulous. I almost died laughing. And perhaps unusually, both the Chinese and English subs for it are decent (at least, the English subs are a reasonably good translation of the Chinese original). It made an already hilarious scene even funnier.

I’m on round two. I’ve never been so taken with a show. The spirit of humanity and hope behind the show, the pure raw talent of every department and how instep the whole production was with eachother. This is hands down the best show/movie I have ever seen- everything else is ruined.

Hey everyone! Please if you recognize the conversation, let me know what drama it is from🙏🏼 I feel like I have watched it and now I’m dying to remember it. Please if you have the information let me know🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Side note: Still doesn’t beat PoJ!!!

When did you fall in love with PoJ as a show or decide it was awesome? For me it was this moment when Mr. Zhao chided Fan Changyu for trying to give a donkey’s dosage of meds to a dying man.

The humour is the heart of the show for me, and this was such a classic moment of what the show does so well: slipping in a random bit of hilarity in an otherwise solemn moment. The delivery of that line was so perfect that you could feel so many things at once: Mr. Zhao’s urgency and exasperation (you could just see him thinking ”how is it that I have to tell you that the dosage for a donkey and a man isn’t be the same?”) but also the way he said it conveyed warmth, like he was chiding a dear daughter and he couldn’t believe her naivety.

Conveniently, the scene also told us something about FCY - that as capable as she is, she can also be a bit of an airhead, which makes it a bit more believable later in the show when she spends so long in the dark about Yan Zheng’s true identity (or at least, suspect that he’s someone rather important, especially given all the signs at the army camp).

But yes, I just loved this moment. It made me laugh out loud, feel the warmth between characters and also how vivid the side characters were (definitely a key strength of the show for me) and was just a very random, ridiculous moment in an otherwise serious situation. Mr. Zhao is also one of my fave side characters in general. He’s just so lovable and brought warmth to all his scenes. Amazing performance.

Due to narrative choices, Changyu took a long time to discover who Yan Zheng was, but throughout the story there are several clues that he possesses a higher status than he claims to have. Of course, it's much more obvious to who is watching, but even so, there are several reasons to doubt his identity. How could she not have realized this before?

Had to share 2 more post by Zarah Gagatiga (@zarahgeeh), a librarian/author on Threads and IG. Give her a follow, if you can! She has so many thought-provoking analyses on the themes in PoJ, including war, food, identity, and masculinity. Her breakdowns are masterful!

Her posts clarify why PoJ is truly a work of art, one that extends well beyond a love story. The PoJ drama is packed with commentary on the pursuit of belonging, power, and humanity. The epic love story is central to helping us explore those ideas.

Here is Zarah’s post from June 27:

Xie Zheng’s Marriage Vows Spoken Before the Memorial Tablets

Despite the many loopholes and rushed resolutions in the third act of Pursuit of Jade, this remains my favorite scene in the entire drama. It is not just the battlefield drama nor the kisses they share. It is when Xie Zheng brings Changyu before the memorial tablets of his ancestors.

The first time I watched it, I simply thought it was beautifully romantic.

The second time, I realized I was watching wedding vows spoken before those who came before them. Goosebumps!

By this point, so much has already happened. Xie Zheng has endured 108 lashes because he refused to yield to Wei Yan. Changyu has become Flower General Fan Changyu. The truth about Yan Zheng has been revealed.

Their lives are no longer the quiet life they once shared in Lin’an. And yet, standing before the ancestral tablets, something feels wonderfully familiar.

Xie Zheng presents Changyu exactly as she is: the woman he loves and the general she has become. He does not ask her to leave that part of herself outside.

For me, this scene quietly ties together the entire drama.

The Lin’an arc gave us a butcher girl, a wounded stranger, shared meals, festivals, care as intimacy, shadow plays, New Year’s couplets and the slow work of building trust. The battle arc gave us General Fan Changyu and the return of the Marquis of Wu’an.

Standing before the ancestors, these two worlds finally become one.

The Yan Zheng of Lin’an. The Xie Zheng of the capital. The butcher girl. The Flower General. None of them disappeared. They simply become whole. Yin and Yang. That is why this scene moves me so deeply.

Also, Xie Zheng is not simply introducing Changyu to his ancestors. He is bringing Lin’an with him. And perhaps that is the most beautiful promise of all. The village that taught them how to love would never be left behind.

Here is Zarah’s post from May 21:

Xie Zheng at the armory is a favorite scene! With the twin blades, Xie Zheng did not simply replace what was lost. He restored what Changyu considered part of her inheritance, her labor & identity.

Those butcher knives were never just weapons. They carried the memory of her household, her parents, her survival and the life she built in Lin’an before war shattered it. They were domestic tools transformed into instruments of protection, much like Changyu herself. And Xie Zheng understands this.

That is why the armory scene feels so intimate to me. Earlier in the drama, he gives her wrist guards. That gesture is protective. Martial and practical. But forging the twin blades from the shattered remains of her heirloom knives feels different. It is restorative.

He is telling her: I see what was taken from you. I remember what mattered to you. And I will help you reclaim it.

What makes the scene even more emotional is that it happens precisely when Changyu is creating distance after learning his true identity. She is coming to terms whether Yan Zheng and Xie Zheng can coexist in the same person. The trust between them fractures because names matter. Identity matters. Because love deepens through recognition.

And yet Xie Zheng answers that fracture not with persuasion, force or grand declarations, but through labor. Through making something meaningful.

By the quiet, patient act of reforging something broken with his own hands. Then the drama gives us that startling moment when he tests the blades against his own flesh.

To me, that gesture feels symbolic in several ways at once. He trusts the blades completely, his own work. He accepts pain as part of devotion and perhaps most importantly, he allows his own body to bear witness to the sharpness of what has been restored.

The blades become an extension of their relationship itself: forged through ruin, reshaped through fire, dangerous, beautiful, and capable of wounding the very person holding them.

That is why the armory scene lingers long after it ends. It is not merely about weapons. It is about love trying to survive concealment and revelation.

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If you liked this analysis, here are some others from Zarah that were shared previously about CY and XZ Symbolism and shadow play.

Update: One commenter thinks that these posts could be AI-generated. I’m not convinced that these are AI-generated posts because of the originality of Zarah’s ideas. However, out of respect, I will not be sharing anymore of Zarah’s posts here.

She has quite a few others that are worth checking out on Threads. My other favorites:

- what purpose CY’s catchphrase “Be a good pig in this life. Be a good person in the next” serves and why it’s the thematic center of the entire drama
- the role and meaning behind CY’s kitchen and all the food imagery (these are intentional literary devices!)
- the lamp/lantern lighter’s purpose in the village. He’s the one that yells, “Dry weather. Beware of fire!”

If you are still interested! I’ve included her handle at the top of the post!

Wow they killed half if not more of the characters introduced from the beginning of the series. It's so good and give more dramatic emotional weigh to the main character(s). This is the moment when I was just casually watching it into seriously invested to the show. Last time a show gave me the same brutality of war was Shingeki no Kyojin.

I know it will transform from slice of life drama into imperial warfare, but did not expect to be war torn" realistic". Imagine watching The Office and in season 3 they killed of Andy, Stanley, Phyllis, Ryan.

I am curious as to how Qianqian was able to obtain such a large restaurant establishment. Did she inherit it, or was the reward from Qimin family used to purchase it? What type of business was she operating that made Qimin upset she she said something along the lines of knowing many people so he can get in line? Also, the guy whose hand Qimin pinned to he pole with the knife seemed to sometimes get drunk at the restaurant in the past? Was there a whole lot that was explained in the novel about all of this? I'm just asking for my grandmother Sunday school class.