Pursuit of Jade: Ep 16-Ep 17 Recap - Kidnapping is Always the Answer
Previous Recaps: Ep 1-5, Ep 6-9, Ep 10-11, Ep 12-13, Ep 14-15
Novel fan translation: Chasing Jade
Main characters:
Zhang Ling He as Xie Zheng/Yan Zheng, Marquis of Wu'an
Tian Xi Wei as Fan Changyu/???
Ep 16: Xie Zheng is not impressed that Fan Changyu wants to attempt kidnapping again to save Yu Qianqian
he doesn't get that kidnapping is the solution to every problem
He tells her that this is all a grand plan and they need to stop the coming riots instead. Then he saves Changning from the restaurant. We meet a new character:
He is Qi Min's (real name Sui Yuanhuai) brother. He's planning to slaughter civilians and take Yu Qianqian and Bao'er, his brother's son and concubine. Back at the village, Madam Song is trying hard to suck up to the magistrate's daughter, but fails. It's because the magistrate's daughter is being imprisoned. Fan Changyu is climbing in on the roof and finds unknown soldiers inside. The daughter begs Fan Changyu to save her father.
Real and fake rioters are storming the city (red ribbons denote fake rioters)
Fan Changyu does do some kidnapping! On behalf of the magistrate
All of Qi Min's grain was stolen by the combined forces of the smart general (He Jingyuan) and Xie Zheng. He's very annoyed about this. Fan Changyu is doing a great job at holding a hostage but he keeps saying the CREEPIEST things to her, so family resemblance between those two brothers (yikes)
Xie Zheng shows up in a mask to help with the riots
The magistrate is a rotten coward but Fan Changyu manages to convince him to send Sui Yuanqing out to the rioters. Xie Zheng starts releasing grain so that the real rioters go home (all they want is grain). The fake rioters try to attack, but their reinforcements are stopped by Li Huaian.
Fan Changyu does really well against Sui Yuanqing. In the forest, Li Huaian is saved by He Jungyuan and the red ribbon soldiers are all wiped out. Sui Yuanqing tries to take Fan Changyu over the wall with him, but she's saved by Xie Zheng., who runs after the escaping soliders.
The magistrate tries to take credit for everything in front of He Jingyuan (side eye). Xie Zheng confronts Sui Yuanqing, who brags about kissing Fan Changyu (does he have a death wish?). He then jumps off a cliff and Xie Zheng shots him in the heart (I'd say he's dead but no one in Cdramas takes fall damage so I'd bet he's alive)
He seems annoying enough to still be alive
Xie Zheng and Li Huaian meet, where Xie Zheng makes fun of him a bit for getting injured (affectionate). Xie Zheng gives him a very backhanded compliment and indicates they should work together despite family differences. Li Huaian asks about what Xie Zheng will do with Fan Changyu. Then Xie Zheng returns to find Changyu:
Ep 17: Fan Changyu gets some Sexy Wound Care and then starts talking about how she's been preparing for Xie Zheng to leave. She mentions divorce papers and Xie Zheng asks if she's planning to marry again. He's clearly annoyed that she basically says yes and they both say they'd marry someone different from the other (they are lying liars who lie). Fan Changyu walks away but
Fan Changyu is NOT impressed and asks him why he would do that since he's leaving. She also slaps him (we cheer in novel reader). He kisses her again and then does a Darcy from ***Pride & Prejudice-***level terrible proposal: Your taste in men sucks so marry me (the novel readers again rejoice). Then he's like, "I gotta kill a guy, wait a year for me."
She leaves and Xie Zheng dramatically lies down in the snow (drama queen). Fan Changyu finds her birthday present, which includes leather arm guards, carpentry tools (I think), and money (she does love money, very good gift).
Wie Xuan is angry about Xie Zheng being alive. Minister Li reports to the emperor that Xie Zheng is alive. The emperor is very happy about it, Wei Yan not so much. Back a the village, the soldiers are conscripting men, including Uncle Zhao and the thug gang. We are even sad for Gossip Grandma, because Madam Song is The Worst and won't help her with her grandson.
"Yan Zheng" was conscripted too, Fan Changyu chases after him
through a most beautiful field
Fan Changyu gives Uncle Zhao a horse and a package for Xie Zheng. Back in the capital, Wei Yan is not impressed with his son. Wei Xuan was the one who shot Xie Zheng. Wei Xuan is all angry because his father likes Xie Zheng better (shocking! maybe try sucking less). Wei Yan wants more information about what is happening in the northwest. He also mentions the events of 17 years ago (the big secret).
Xie Zheng is back to being fancy
Note: Xie Zheng's courtesy name is Jiuheng, so you'll see that name being used for him too, because all these fancy men must have 1 million titles and forms of address for The Confusion (it is very important to rich people of any society to collect 1 million names, it makes them feel special)
Yu Qianqian comes to say goodbye to Fan Changyu
Novel spoilers: >!if it gives you joy, feel free to ship the little cuties, as they end up together!<
Qi Min murders a messenger and goes off to find Yu Qianqian
And it seems like he's gonna find her. More tomorrow!
Novel ramblings: I started reading the novel again because it's been a while and they kept so many scenes and so much dialogue! I remembered they made Xie Zheng a lot nicer but I underestimated just how much. He sits there glaring at everyone and is annoyed that he has to save Changning because she's so loud. I've been enjoying that they softened him in the drama, though now we've seen his more crazy side coming out
Posted Mar 12, 2026, 12:06 PM UTC