LayarHijau – The historical drama Pursuit of Jade (逐玉), starring Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, has continued to deliver strong performance numbers since its release. The series has repeatedly set new viewership share records and is now widely considered one of the most popular Chinese dramas of 2026.
The success of Pursuit of Jade has also brought increased attention to several supporting actors. Alongside Deng Kai and Li Qing, the villainous character Sui Yuanqing—played by young actor Lin Muran—has become one of the most talked-about figures among viewers.
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In the drama, Sui Yuanqing is the heir of Prince Changxin. The character is portrayed as cold, ruthless, and dangerously ambitious. Not only does he openly challenge Wu’an Hou Xie Zheng, played by Zhang Linghe, but he also commits brutal acts, including ordering the massacre of civilians in the town where the female lead—portrayed by Tian Xiwei—once lived.
His chilling gaze and almost unhinged demeanor have made the character deeply unsettling to watch. Many viewers admit they feel both anger and frustration every time Sui Yuanqing appears on screen.
In Pursuit of Jade, the central conflict traces back to events that took place 16 years earlier, when Jinzhou fell from the control of the Dayin empire. Taking advantage of the chaos, the old emperor’s younger brother, Prince Changxin, seized military authority over three cities in the northwest while secretly building his own power base.
His son, Sui Yuanqing, was raised and trained from childhood under strict guidance from his father, who forced him to study and imitate the abilities of Wu’an Hou Xie Zheng. As a result, Xie Zheng becomes the rival he seems destined to confront for the rest of his life.
Sui Yuanqing first appears in the story disguised as a Dayin official tasked with collecting grain taxes in Qingping County. Behind the disguise, however, he is secretly trying to stir up rebellion among the local population.
His plan ultimately fails after the female lead, Fan Changyu—played by Tian Xiwei—joins forces with her husband Xie Zheng, whose true identity has not yet been revealed at that point in the story.
In one of the drama’s most memorable scenes, Sui Yuanqing is captured by Fan Changyu and slapped across the face. Instead of reacting with anger, he licks the blood from his lips and flashes a sinister smile. After discovering that Fan Changyu is Xie Zheng’s wife, he deliberately provokes his enemy by remarking that her skin is so pale that “she must taste sweet when kissed.”
His cruelty does not stop there. Determined to find Fan Changyu, Sui Yuanqing later leads troops to massacre nearly the entire population of Lin’an Town. The once peaceful town is left silent and lifeless, yet Sui Yuanqing remains arrogant and mocking throughout the aftermath.
Although the character commits countless atrocities in the story, Lin Muran’s performance has quickly drawn attention from viewers.
Born in 2005, Lin Muran has actually been active in the entertainment industry since he was a child. He made his acting debut in 2006 in the television drama Jin Hun. With his large expressive eyes and distinctive dimples, he was often cast as the younger version or on-screen son of well-known stars.
At the age of six, he played the son of Andy Lau in the film Switch (天机·富春山居图). Two years later, he appeared as the son of Liu Tao in the drama Happiness Full of House (幸福满屋).
He also portrayed the younger version of Lu Han in the adventure film Time Raiders (盗墓笔记), and later played the teenage version of Wu Lei in the drama Nothing But You (爱情而已).
Beyond his acting career, Lin Muran is also known for his academic achievements. In 2024, he took the competitive entrance exams for top performing arts schools and ranked first in the acting departments at both the Central Academy of Drama and the Shanghai Theatre Academy. He also placed first among male applicants in the acting program at the Communication University of China.
In the end, he chose to enroll at the Central Academy of Drama, joining a newly established program focused on action performance. With years of acting experience since childhood, steadily improving skills, and impressive academic credentials, Lin Muran is now widely regarded as one of the promising young talents to watch in the Chinese entertainment industry.
