Dear readers, I’m sure some of you have been desperately searching for the ending explanation of The Pursuit of Jade. Maybe the suspense was so intense that it kept you up at night, or maybe your curiosity demanded immediate answers.
Either way, I know that feeling all too well. Let me guide you through the ending of this wonderful drama. However, I highly recommend watching the finale yourself. Even after reading this post. After all, spoilers can tell you what happens, but they can’t make you feel it. Happy reading!
Read the Pursuit of Jade drama review and ending explained here:
Pursuit of Jade Ending Explained
What Happened to Xie Zheng and Fan Chang Yu on Pursuit of Jade Ending?
Emperor Qi Sheng tried to win over Xie Zheng’s military power by marrying off Qi Shu to him. Of course, Qi Shu refused. So he turned to Wei Yan, who advised him to summon Fan Chang Yu and reward her instead.
After all, Fan Chang Yu now hold half of Jizhou military power and if the emperor didn’t act fast, the Li family would. Qi Sheng agreed. Fan Chang Yu was granted the tile Flower-Pinned General.
Qi Shen grew uneasy after he heard the news of Qi Min’s sudden appearance, followed by the existence of the imperial great-grandson, Yu Bao’er. Meanwhile, Li Xing who was threatened by Xie Zheng, tried to drive a wedge between him and Wei Yan.
He leaked news that 17 years ago, Wei Yan received a letter from the Qi family. It was the letter that led to the deaths of Xie Lin Shan and Crown Prince Chengde.
While everyone schemed, Fan Chang Yu got an unexpected visitor. An official came to teach her court etiquette, and the person is Song Yan. All this time, Song Yan had been stuck doing menial work since his mother died. He endured everything in hopes of a better future.
But after he met Fan Chang Yu, everything turned to worse. His superior learned he used to bully Fan Chang Yu back in their hometown. And as if offending Fan Chang Yu was not enough, he offended Xie Zheng too. Song Yan was dismissed from his position.
Only when Xie Zheng entered the capital did Song Yan realized the “lame vagrant” he once mocked was actually the mighty Marquis Wu’an.
A rumors soon spread that the emperor intended to make Fan Chang Yu his Noble Consort. Qi Sheng hoped this action will suppress both Wei Yan and Li Xing. Fan Chang Yu explained that she was already married, but Qi Sheng insisted. So, she casually said that she’d write Xie Zheng a divorce letter.
The moment Qi Sheng learned that her husband was Marquis Wu’an, he chickened out. Still, the thought of Jizhou and Yanzhou uniting terrified him. Qi Sheng feared Xie Zheng might become the next Lord Changxin.
Xie Zheng returned to the Wei residence and confronted his uncle. He wanted to confirm the truth about Wei Yan abandoned his troops mid-deployment to return to the capital. It was a decision that led to his parents’ death. Still. Wei Wan insisted he did it to quell a rebellion.
Furious, Wei Yan accused Xie Zheng of bewitched by the enemy’s daughter and ordered him to cut ties with Fan Chang Yu. Xie Zheng refused and accepted 108 lashes before the ancestral tablets.
Fan Chang Yu heard Xie Zheng came to the Wei family’s ancestral house and rushed in. Wei Yan mocked her but she calmly declared herself as the marchioness. Wei Yan told her that her marriage lacked proper rites.
But before she could respond, Xie Zheng stated that he already accepted the family punishment. Therefore, Wei Yan no longer had any right to decide for him. Xie Zheng then asked Fan Chang Yu to kneel before his parents’ tablets. He formally acknowledging her as his wife.
Things get escalated during the palace banquet. The emperor tried to reward Xie Zheng with a Longquan sword. He refused and instead using it to threaten Li Xing and the emperor himself. Qi Sheng was furious but was too coward to show it.
That night, Xie Zheng planned to bring out the witness from the Qingyuan Palace with Qi Shu’s help. But they fall into the emperor’s aphrodisiac trap. Xie Zheng managed to get out of the palace and killed the guards. But then he was labelled as thief and chased by the palace guards.
Fan Chang Yu sensed that something was amiss and decide to leave the banquet to find Xie Zheng. She met Qi Shu’s maid who reported the emperor’s trap. So, Fan Chang Yu sent the maid to summon Empress Dowager An.
Li Xing and the Emperor spread the news that Xie Zheng had violated a maid in Qingyuan Palace. The emperor brought the minister to the palace, only to see it was caught in fire.
In the end, Li Xing and Qi Sheng’s plan failed. When Li Xing saw his grandson ruined his plan, his anger flared. Then Xie Zheng and Fan Chang Yu arrived. Cornered, the emperor blamed it all to Li Xiang, his personal eunuch. To send a warning to Li Xing and Qi Sheng, Xie Zheng killed Li Xian on the spot with the Longquan sword.
Back home, the aphrodisiac still lingered. Xie Zheng and Fan Chang Yu let the nature take its course. They spend the whole night in bed after Fan Chang Yu made sure Xie Zheng recognized her despite his delirium.
Fan Chang Yu dreamed her father, Wei Qi Lin, had once brought a half tiger tally from Wei Yan to Lord Chagxin, only to be told that it was fake. He had begged reinforcements for Jinzhou, where the Crown Prince Chengde and Xie Lin Shan were holding on. The tally ended up with Qi Min, the reached Fan Chang Yu through Yu Qian Qian.
Later Fan Chang Yu also got the other half from Shi San. The tally belongs to Sui Yuan Qing who killed himself as a token of loyalty so Fan Chang Yu would accept it.
Shi San only said that Sui Yuan Qing only wanted Qi Min to be doomed forever. Fan Chang Yu accept the tally but asked Shi San to take back the head for a proper burial. However, even with a complete tiger tally, Fan Chang Yu and Xie Zheng still lacked evidence.
Soon, news spread that Fan Chang Yu was Wei Qi Lin’s daughter and people was furious. With determination, she struck the Petition Drum to seek justice. She denounce heaven’s injustice, accused the emperor’s ignorance, and indicted the treacherous ministers in power. Under Qi Shu’s pressure, Qi Sheng agreed to open the court.
Meanwhile, Xie Zheng found a letter. It was a message from Consort Shu to Wei Yan. Years ago, it was found by his mother, Wei Wan. She hid it inside a food compartment. The same one that held the last osmanthus cake she left for Xie Zheng.
Because of that, no one ever touched it. It revealed that Wei Yan’s decision to return to the capital led to tragedy. Wei Wan, caught between the Xie army threat and the truth, chose death. She hoped that her death will awaken Wei Yan’s conscience. For the first time, Xie Zheng understood, his mother’s death wasn’t his fault.
He took the letter and presented it at the court. As tension rose, Qi Min soldiers quietly entered the palace. Coincidentally, Wei yan also planned a coup that day. Three forces clashed in the palace.
On the palace wall stood Qi Min, Li Xing, and Yu Qian Qian. Below, Wei Yan and Xie Zheng faced off with their armies. Qi Min persuaded Xie Zheng to join him, but he refused. Xie Zheng accused Qi Min of colluding with Beijue.
Li Xing who was unaware of it was shocked and fainted on the spot. Qi Min also threatened Wei Yan with his wife and son, but he didn’t waver. It was Xie Zheng who saved the mother and son.
Wei Yan and Xie Zheng’s soldiers dealt with Qi Min’s soldiers. But while their soldiers fought, Xie Zheng demanded the settle their score. Uncle and nephew fought fiercely. Xie Zheng did it for the sake of his parents and the fallen soldiers of Jinzhou.
While Li Huai’an saved Qi Sheng, Fan Chang Yu went to save Yu Qian Qian from Qi Min’s hand. She almost lost her because Yu Qian Qian was tied to Qi Min. He let her go at the last moment and sacrificed himself.
Below, Wei Yan was defeated by Xie Zheng. But he didn’t expect that Wei Sheng will shoot an arrow from behind. It was Wei Xuan who rushed and blocked the arrow. He did it as a repayment for Xie Zheng from saving his mother. Wei Yan admit defeat and surrendered. He was taken to the prison.
Days later, they learned the truth. The real mastermind and villain was the late emperor, Qi Yi. He wanted to eliminate Crown Prince out of fear of his power. Everyone else, General Xie Lin Shan, Wei Qi Lin, Consort Shu, even Wei Yan, was only pawn in his plan.
In the end, Fan Chang Yu, Fan Chang Ning, Xie Zheng, and the Pig Butcher Squad returned to Lin’an. Fan Chang Yu decided to make the Zhou couple become their godparents. And they were thrilled to call Fan sisters as their daughters.
Five years later, Xie Zheng remained Prince Regent and Fan Chang Yu is a Grand General. They also had two children. When Beijue attacked again, she refused to stay behind and chose to fight beside him. Before leaving, Fan Chang Yu reminded Xie Zheng that if things got dangerous, he should stay behind her. 😁
What Happened to Wei Yan on Pursuit of Jade Ending?
During the palace banquet, Wei Yan already sensed that Xie Zheng was up to something. When Xie Zheng left, he tried to follow, but Fan Chang Yu stopped him. Not long after, the emperor and Li Xing set their trap.
An eunuch suddenly reported that Xie Zheng has violated a palace maid. Defiling the harem is a grave offense. The emperor immediately led his ministers to the Qingyuan Palace, only to find it already engulfed in flames.
Panic spread when Empress Dowager An arrived and revealed that Qi Shu was inside the palace. Li Xing clearly wanted her to die, so she could never testify for Xie Zheng. The emperor clearly unaware his own sister was in danger was thrown into chaos. In the end, thanks to Gongsun Yin, Qi Shu was saved.
Afterward, everyone gathered in the emperor’s hall. The emperor and Li Xing were stunned when Xie Zheng and Fan Chang Yu appeared. Li Xing and Eunuch Li Xiang quickly accused Xie Zheng of causing disturbances and trying to destroy the evidence.
But then, the so-called thief arrived. It was Li Huai’an. Xie Zheng used the Longquan sword to kill Li Xiang, sending warning to Qi Sheng and Li Xing. With the farce exposed, the emperor has no choice but to promise that he will investigate and then dismissed everyone.
Only Wei Yan remained. He slapped and warned Qi Sheng that 17 years ago, the late emperor also did the same. Before leaving, he coldly addend that he could treat Qi Sheng just like his father and replace him if he wished. Qi Sheng broke down after he left.
With the unfavourable situation, Wei Yan moved up his coup plans. He ordered his army to march to the capital at once and spread the news that Fan Chang Yu was the daughter of the traitor Wei Qi Lin.
After she struck the Petition Drum, Fan Chang Yu presented the complete tiger tally. But Wei Yan appeared with a letter from Wei Qi Lin to He Jing Yuan. They argued fiercely until Xie Zheng arrived with Consort Shu’s letter. A proof that Wei Yan is the one who abandoned the front lines to return to her.
The emperor was about to arrest Wei Yan when his soldiers stormed in. The emperor shocked to learn that Wei yan planned to rebel. But before Wei Yan could act, news came that Qi Min had already entered the palace.
Two rebellions at once. That was enough to make the emperor hysterical. Wei Yan chose to deal with Qi Min first. As he passed, he told Xie Zheng that their score would be settled later.
Amidst the clash between Qi Min’s soldiers with Wei Yan’s and Xie Zheng’s, the uncle and nephew decide the settle their score. They fought fiercely one on one. Wei Yan lost and was taken to prison.
Three days later, the truth began ti surface. It start with Madam Wei who revealed that Wei Xuan wasn’t Wei Yan’s son, but a son of a fallen subordinate. Madam Wei was alone with her unborn child.
At the same time, Wei Yan needed a wife to stop his family from pressuring him to get married. So for the sake of his kindness, Madam Wei wished Wei Yan be allowed to die with an intact body.
Empress Dowager An finally told Qi Shu and Fan Chang Yu the secrets she kept for 17 years. She said that Consort Shu was pregnant with Wei Yan’s child and the late emperor found out.
Soon after he Qingyuan Palace were burned and Wei Yan commit a grave crime, returning to the capital and staging rebellion. However, according to Zhao Xun, the fire was set by Crown Princess Chengde. It was likely to save Qi Min’s life. But the one who killed Consort Shu was still the late emperor.
Later, Empress Dowager An said that the attending physician took his own life, leaving a note claiming Consort Shu had never been pregnant.
Tao Yi managed to persuade Wei Yan to tell the truth when he visited him at the prison cell. Eighteen years ago, Wei Yan has said something that become the root of all the tragedy. Back then, the Crown Prince Chengde invite Wei Yan, Li Xing, Tao Yi, and Xie Lin Shan on an intimate dinner.
Over osmanthus wine the prince spoke of joining Xie Lin Shan at Jinzhou to face the national crisis together. His words stunned them. Tao Yi tried to persuade him to stay out of the problem because he is a very important royal heir.
Chengde’s eyes teary when he revealed that during flood relief effort, the 16th Prince and the Jia family had obstructed him, yet the emperor blamed him and never treat him kindly. Disheartened, Chengde believe that only by earning merits at the frontier, he could find his path.
Drunk, Wei Yan carelessly suggested forcing the emperor to abdicate. Though the crown prince had reprimanded Wei Yan and told the rest to forget everything he said, Li Xing leaked the news to the emperor.
The emperor then conspired with Lord Changxin to eliminate his own son by refusing to provide any support, including the provisions requested by Wei Qi Lin.
Meanwhile, the late emperor forged Consort Shu’s handwriting in an attempt to lure Wei Yan back to the capital, leaving Jinzhou, the crown prince, and Xie Lin Shan behind.
Wei Yan later lamented that the Xie, Wei and Qi families had always been loyal, yet the emperor had toyed with their lives. He claimed that he was rebelling in order to save the empire, and that Consort Shu had also died because of the emperor.
Before returning, however, he had given the real tiger tally to Wei Qi Lin. However, the emperor’s plan was flawless, forcing Wei Yan to blame Wei Qi Lin. He admitted that killing Fan Chang Yu and her sister was meant to preserve his bond with Xie Zheng. Unbeknownst to him, both Fan Chang Yu and Xie Zheng were listening outside the cell.
Eventually, everything settled down following Qi Min’s death and Yu Bao’er’s ascension. Wei Qi Lin was posthumously named Count Zhongyong. Fan Chang Yu’s grandfather, Meng Shu Yuan, was honoured as Marquis Wusu.
Xie Zheng became Prince Regent and took control of the state, while Fan Chang Yu was named Grand General of Huaihua and First-Rank Lady Defender of the State. Balance was restored and peace finally seemed within reach.
Wei Yan was sentenced to death by poisoned wine. Xie Zheng personally prepared it to spare him a cruel death. In his final moments, Wei Yan imagined Xie Zheng visiting him and sharing a quiet meal together as they had done before. When the illusion faded, he drank the wine.
What Happened to Qi Min / Sui Yuan Hai and Yu Qian Qian on Pursuit of Jade Ending?
Yu Qian Qian and Yu Bao’er took shelter in a safe house with Mr. and Mrs. Zhao. However, Qi Min’s men still managed to locate and capture them. To save Yu Bao’er, Yu Qian Qian offered her own life as leverage. She held a sword to her neck and forced them to release Yu Bao’er and send him to find Xie Zheng.
Qi Min had his own reasons for wanting to get rid of Yu Bao’er. He told Yu Qian Qian that the child had come at the wrong time. In fact, Yu Bao’er could be an obstacle for him in his path to ascend to the throne.
Qi Min also hated that Yu Qian Qian loved the boy more than him. However, he promised her that once he ascended the throne, she could have as many children as she wanted.
After returning to the capital, Qi Min ordered Li Xing to persuade the emperor to summon Xie Zheng and his army. Since Qi Min’s men had already infiltrated the Yanzhou army, this was the perfect opportunity to bring the rebel forces into the capital under Xie Zheng’s name.
Qi Min presented the empress’s phoenix robe and crown for Yu Qian Qian to wear. She refused, but Qi Min begged her. They spent the night together. When he was drunk, Yu Qian Qian quietly took the tiger tally from his neck. She gave it to her maid and instructed her to deliver it to Fan Chang Yu in secret.
The palace banquet plan fell apart, but Qi Min still had another move. Finally, Yu Qian Qian learned that Qi Min knew about the stolen tiger tally. He had even allowed it to be delivered to Fan Chang Yu.
However, Qi Min was furious because Yu Qian Qian had trampled on his love. She argued back, saying it was not love, only possession. She didn’t care about becoming empress.
Without him, her life was better. Still, Qi Min refused to let her go. Instead, he shackled their hands together and said that if she wanted to escape, she would have to cut off one of their hands.
Qi Min’s carefully planned coup failed because of Wei Yan and Xie Zheng. During the chaos, an arrow flew toward Yu Qian Qian. In an instant, Qi Min shielded her, and they both fell from the wall. Fan Chang Yu managed to catch her.
However, she and Qi Min were tied together by shackles. In that moment, Qi Min chose to sacrifice himself. He broke his own hand to free her and then fell hard onto the stone ground. He survived but was imprisoned.
Yu Qian Qian visited Qi Min with poisoned soup. Before he died, he told her that he loved her and that they should never meet again in the next life. He asked her if she was a wandering ghost or a fallen sage. She simply said she was herself. Later, she told Fan Chang Yu that she came from a place far away from which she might never return.
Yu Bao’er was officially recorded in the royal lineage. He ascended the throne under the name Qi Yu. Yu Qian Qian became Empress Dowager Mingde and was granted the right to rule behind the scenes.
On a normal day, she still chased after her son when he was secretly eating sweets. The young emperor had once promised Fan Chang Ning that he would make her empress and give her the entire country as a betrothal gift.
What Happened to Gongsun Yin and Qi Shu on Pursuit of Jade Ending?
Qi Shu found a witness who knew what had happened seventeen years ago. The witness was an elderly woman from the Cold Palace. However, when Empress Dowager An heard about it, she became anxious and ordered Qi Shu never to mention it again. Clearly, the empress dowager was hiding something that no one else knew.
During the palace banquet, Qi Shu got trapped inside a burning palace. The guards didn’t dare enter because the fire was too strong. Suddenly, Gongsun Yin arrived and rushed in without hesitation to save the girl he loved most.
He found her and carried her out. To save her, he performed CPR. Li Xing tried to stop him, but nothing mattered more to Gongsun Yin than her life. With Empress Dowager An’s permission and warning, he continued.
And he succeeded. Qi Shu came back to life and weakly reached for his hand. Empress Dowager An broke down in tears when she saw her daughter open her eyes. Still, Li Xing continued to provoke the emperor, trying to stop Gongsun Yin from helping Xie Zheng.
Gongsun Yin claimed that it was the imperial physician who had saved him and that they could simply pretend he had never been there. The Empress Dowager and the foolish emperor agreed.
When Qi Shu woke up, she saw Gongsun Yin beside her bed. Her tears flowed as she said she was afraid Gongsun Yin would die and that she would never see him again. Qi Shu finally felt at ease only after Gongsun Yin promised that no matter what happened, he would stay by her side and take care of her.
What Happened to Li Huai’an on Pursuit of Jade Ending?
Li Huai’an returned to the capital with Fan Chang Yu. He took this opportunity to remind Li Xing that Qi Min was not a good man. Helping him regain power would only cause the people to suffer.
However, Li Xing refused to listen. He was convinced that everything he did was right. In his view, the current emperor was merely Wei Yan’s puppet, and Qi Min was the rightful heir to the throne.
Fearing he would ruin their plan with Qi Min, Li Xing placed Li Huai’an under house arrest. On the night of the palace banquet, Li Huai’an used the Li family token to enter the palace. Disguised as a thief, he helped Xie Zheng.
In front of the emperor, his grandfather Wei Yan, Xie Zheng, and Fan Chang Yu, he boldly claimed that he had come to confess his feelings to Qi Shu. He admitted that he was the one who sought her out, not Xie Zheng.
Later, Li Huai’an and the Jizhou Army helped Xie Zheng suppress the rebellions of Wei Yan and Qi Min. Li Huai’an even saved Qi Sheng from being beaten by Wei Yan’s soldiers. But the tension had already taken its toll. Qi Sheng was no longer the same, as he had lost his mind.
Li Huai’an took over the family and donated all their wealth to the state to atone for their mistakes. The emperor and Xie, now the Prince Regent, kept their word and spared the family’s lives. Still, they were exiled, and all their property was confiscated.
Li Xing could only lament having turned himself into a villain for nothing all these years. After his family was exiled, Li Huai’an chose to leave as well. He volunteered to be demoted and stationed in a remote and desolate land at the frontier.
The Easter Eggs
In another timeline, the Jinzhou massacre never happened.
Fan Chang Yu and Xie Zheng’s mothers were best friends. Xie Zheng still took after his uncle, but his parents were alive and well. Fan Chang Yu had not yet been born, while Xie Zheng was already four years old. His mother once asked if he would marry Fan Chang Yu when he grew up, and he agreed.
The emperor was Crown Prince Chengde. Meanwhile, Qi Min was the current crown prince. Once again, Xie Zheng and Fan Chang Yu were husband and wife.
One day, they went to Yixiang Restaurant. Everything felt strangely familiar to her. From the small town to the restaurant to the proprietress, Yu Qian Qian.
In a private room, Qi Min, Xie Zheng, Fan Chang Yu, Gongsun Yin, Qi Shu, and Li Huai An gathered. When Yu Qian Qian entered, Qi Min froze. Their eyes met, and neither spoke for a moment.
Then, suddenly, Qi Min started retching again and again until he had to excuse himself. While Yu Qian Qian stood there, completely baffled, Qi Min couldn’t help but wonder: Were they enemies in a past life?
My Two Cents
In episode 40, Lin’an Town is transformed from a ruined wasteland littered with dead bodies into a beautifully illuminated city. All the residents, including the deceased Man Di and Madam Kang, wave at Fan Chang Yu. They are celebrating her achievements as Grand General Huaihua.
For a moment, I felt as if I were watching a scene from Titanic when Rose’s spirit returns to the ship and is welcomed by Jack and the other souls lost in the tragedy.
When Yan Zheng appeared among them, I cried, thinking Xie Zheng had died too. Then, the scene shifts to the elderly Zhao couple praying for her return. Thank goodness this drama didn’t end in tears.
Btw, aren’t you a bit curious about Yu Qian Qian? I mean, CPR technique was developed in 1960. Combined with her saying that she came from a very faraway place and couldn’t return, did you think what I was thinking? 😁
Anyway, I’m glad the drama concluded on a happy note. However, I feel they should have given us more episodes to explain everything more clearly. Still, the story leaves a lasting impression with its emotional depth and unforgettable characters. It’s the kind of ending that lingers quietly in your heart long after the drama ends.
I think I needed some time before I could move on. How about you, dear readers? Did you feel the same? Well, let’s hope it ends soon because there are too many dramas that are too good to miss. Stay tuned for more updates, dear readers. Until then, goodbye!
