Deng Kai’s Villain Role in 'Pursuit of Jade' Wins Praise as Viewers Spotlight Qi Min

Deng Kai’s Performance in Pursuit of Jade Gets Fans Talking. (Credits: Tencent Video)

iQIYI & Tencent Video’s historical drama Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) continues to command strong ratings, but recent episodes have shifted the spotlight beyond its central romance. While the series stars Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, viewers are increasingly drawn to Deng Kai, whose portrayal of the calculating and obsessive Qi Min has quickly become one of the drama’s most discussed elements.

The drama has steadily built a following since its debut, blending palace intrigue with emotional storytelling. Yet it is the layered performances from supporting characters that have amplified the buzz. Alongside Kong Xueer, who went viral earlier for her portrayal of tavern owner Yu Qianqian, Deng Kai’s performance has now become a major talking point among viewers.

In Pursuit of Jade, Deng Kai plays Qi Min, the emperor’s eldest grandson. The character is defined by ambition and an obsessive temperament, traits the actor portrays with controlled intensity. His performance leans into Qi Min’s darker psychology while maintaining a charismatic edge that keeps audiences watching closely.

The drama’s visual styling further strengthens the character’s impact. 

Qi Min appears with striking white hair and a cold, shadowed gaze, a design choice that many viewers say adds to the role’s mysterious aura. The result is a villain who feels unsettling yet oddly magnetic.

Deng Kai’s White-Haired Antagonist Qi Min Steals the Spotlight

Netizens have been quick to react. Some viewers praise Deng Kai for turning Qi Min into a memorable antagonist whose presence dominates scenes even when he shares the screen with the lead cast. Others note that his refined styling and restrained acting style make the character appear calculating rather than openly ruthless, adding a layer of unpredictability.

Several comments circulating on Chinese social media suggest that Deng Kai’s screen presence here surpasses his earlier performances in Unveil: Jadewind (唐宫奇案), The Wanted Detective (定风波) and The Blood of Youth (少年歌行). While those dramas introduced him to audiences, many fans now describe Qi Min as the role that truly showcases his range.

Recent episodes also deepen the drama’s emotional tension. While the central storyline continues to follow the romance between Xie Zheng (Zhang Linghe) and Fan Changyu (Tian Xiwei), the narrative increasingly explores the complicated past between Yu Qianqian (Kong Xueer) and Qi Min.

Within the story, Qi Min is revealed as the legitimate son of the late Crown Prince Chengde, whose death reshaped the balance of power at court. 

Years earlier, Qi Min forcibly kept Yu Qianqian by his side when she was still a concubine. While pregnant, she eventually staged her own death in order to escape.

Following Crown Prince Chengde’s death, Qi Min quietly reorganises his position within the royal hierarchy. 

Determined to pursue revenge and regain influence, he manoeuvres himself into becoming the adopted son of Prince Changxin. At the same time, he continues searching for Yu Qianqian, driven by a fixation that blurs the line between love and control.

Their eventual reunion becomes one of the drama’s most tense moments. Yu Qianqian senses a strange familiarity in the white-haired man standing before her, yet cannot immediately recognise him. 

In her memory, the man who once imprisoned her wore a mask, carried visible scars, and spoke in a deeper voice. The handsome figure now confronting her appears entirely different.

This psychological tension allows Snow Kong Xueer to deliver one of the drama’s most nuanced performances. Her portrayal of Yu Qianqian’s unease relies on subtle details — cautious glances, tense expressions and trembling hands — conveying fear without overt dialogue. 

Many viewers have also highlighted the on-screen chemistry between Kong Xueer and Deng Kai, particularly in scenes where Qi Min’s calm expression hints at quiet manipulation.

#KongXueEr and #DengKai will be a secondary couple in a love & hate story

He is obsessive and dark: an imperial grandson with childhood burns and adult illness, seeking revenge for the throne. Forced love: she flees, he chases, even abandoning mother and son.

— Pursuit Of Jade pic.twitter.com/zIuDA0chTw

— Blossom ☂️ C-drama 🍉 (@darkrivertes) March 1, 2026

Before Pursuit of Jade, Deng Kai had already built a growing résumé in historical and mystery dramas. In Unveil: Jadewind, he briefly appeared as Heng Wang Li Duo, a role that lasted only one scene yet still generated discussion due to the character’s refined styling. 

In The Wanted Detective, he played Zhuge Kongyun, a rival who ultimately chooses justice. Meanwhile, in The Blood of Youth, he portrayed Prince Xiao Yu, another ambitious royal determined to claim power.

Even so, many fans now argue that Qi Min may become Deng Kai’s defining role. The character’s layered personality — equal parts composed, obsessive and calculating — offers the actor more room to command attention on screen.

With Pursuit of Jade continuing to dominate discussion online, the question now circulating among viewers is simple: will Qi Min remain the drama’s most captivating antagonist, or will the story reveal deeper motives behind his actions? 

Fans watching the latest episodes have plenty of theories, and many are already debating what this complex character’s fate might be. What do you think — is Qi Min the drama’s most compelling figure so far?