Pursuit of Jade: Ep 34 Recap - Wei vs. Li
Previous Recaps: Ep 1-5, Ep 6-9, Ep 10-11, Ep 12-13, Ep 14-15, Ep 16-17, Ep 18-19, Ep 20-21, Ep 22-23, Ep 24, Ep 25, Ep 26, Ep 27, Ep 28, Ep 29-30, Ep 31-32, Ep 33
Novel fan translation: Chasing Jade
Main characters:
Zhang Ling He as Yan Zheng/Xie Zheng, title: Marquis of Wu'an, courtesy name: Jiuheng
Tian Xi Wei as Fan Changyu/???, courtesy name: Shanjun
Ep 34: Wei Yan and Minister Li are fighting over Wei Xuan, who broke a Li grandson's leg. Wei Yan accuses the Li side of spreading rumours that Wei Xuan isn't his son. The emperor just decides to give up
In the end, the emperor lightly punishes both of them and then gives the most weak table slap ever (table pounding is an important historical drama skill he has not learned!). Minister Li receives a letter about the tiger tally investigation. It all comes down to Wei Qilin (Fan Changyu's father) and if he was the one who switched it or not. Wei Xuan goes home and talks to his father. He is punished for the leg breaking. Wei Xuan then asks why Wei Yan is so indifferent to his wife and himself, as that is driving the rumours. Wei Yan basically says, "Grow up."
Princess Qi Shu is angry at her brother for trying to marry her off
He cries about how difficult everything is, she insists that he stays out of her love life. Then the Emperor (Qi Sheng) goes to Wei Yan's house and begs for help. He's afraid of Qi Min. Wei Yan passive-aggressively trims a plant, a classic power move.
I bet he can pound tables properly too
Wei Yan asks what he has to worry about (I bet many things). Then he advises Qi Sheng to bring Fan Changyu to the capital and give her merits. This is clearly some sort of plot.
Fan Changyu arrives in the capital and all the women are bisexual for her, as they should be (like literally she got thrown a handkerchief embroidered with mandarin ducks from a woman)
Li Huaian being all salty about it
Xie Zheng is watching from a window and they smile at each other. Qi Sheng flirts with Fan Changyu when she is in court, it's so awkward. The ministers fight about Fan Changyu being promoted to such a high level. She insults a bunch of ministers, which the emperor enjoys. Fan Changyu also sneakily breaks Minister Li's sedan chair.
Li Huaian tells his grandfather that they cannot support Qi Min because he's evil and insane. Minister Li argues that Qi Sheng also sucks, which is true but have you met Qi Min?!?
Fan Changyu isn't having fun at the celebration afterwards, so she wanders off and finds Xie Zheng. She is disappointed by the court as they seem like they won't help her. Xie Zheng promises to help her find the truth about her father and the events of 17 years ago.
Jin Yuanbao... you just figured out NOW that liking Fan Changyu was useless? Ug.
Minister Li wants Fan Changyu punished for being rude. Wei Yan reveals the existence of Yu Bao'er (Imperial great-grandson). Poor Qi Sheng, he only had one good day before being stressed out again. Minister Li wants to spread a rumour blaming Wei Yan for the events 17 years ago, so Xie Zheng will investigate. Qi Sheng and the earless eunuch commiserate.
That was such a fun episode, Wei Yan is so fun to watch!
Novel bits: Qi Sheng is just useless here, in the novel he's >!smarter and eviler (he's pretending to be incompetent) and he occasionally just hacks eunuchs to death.!<
It looks like we won't get the scene where Fan Changyu fights 16 assassins alone and almost dies (she only survives because Qi Min was trying to capture her alive.) Anyway, here is Xie Zheng's reaction:
Seeing her again, learning that she had already been to the gates of death and back, that feeling of fear and anger that made his teeth chatter and his whole body tremble with powerlessness – he never wanted to experience it a second time in this life.
If you want to read the novel, it's linked at the top of all of these posts!
Posted Mar 24, 2026, 11:16 AM UTC