Zhang Linghe (张凌赫) Best Dramas & Career Guide: From Chang Heng in Love Between Fairy and Devil to Xie Zheng in Pursuit of Jade
2026-05-13
Zhang Linghe (张凌赫, born 1997) plays Xie Zheng / Marquis Wu'an in Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) — the role that elevated him from popular C-drama actor to top-tier star. Here's his career from electrical-engineering student to Gucci ambassador, his best dramas, the 'Foundation-Liquid General' meme, and what's next.
Who Is Zhang Linghe? — Short Answer
Zhang Linghe (张凌赫, Zhāng Línghè) is the 28-year-old Chinese actor who plays Xie Zheng / Marquis Wu'an in Pursuit of Jade (逐玉, 2026) — the role that made him one of China's top-tier 顶流 (top-traffic) stars and the first C-drama lead to chart on Netflix's weekly Global Top 10 Non-English TV list.
- Born: 30 December 1997, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province
- Birth name: Zhang Jiawei (张家玮)
- Agency: Star Times (宗星时代)
- Background: Studied electrical engineering at Nanjing Normal University before being scouted by a talent agent and pivoting to acting in 2020.
- Breakout #1 (recognition): Chang Heng / God of War in Love Between Fairy and Devil (苍兰诀, 2022) — the global Netflix hit headlined by Esther Yu and Dylan Wang where Zhang's "second-lead syndrome" performance launched his international fanbase.
- Breakout #2 (A-list confirmation): Xie Zheng in Pursuit of Jade (逐玉, 2026) — drew 3.3 billion+ aggregate views, ~750M weekly views in China, and made the Netflix global Top 10.
- Western recognition: Gucci brand ambassador since July 2024, plus Bulgari, Chopard, Roger Vivier, Lancôme. ~70,000+ fans on MyDramaList.
Below: his role in Pursuit of Jade explained, his full career arc, the "Foundation-Liquid General" meme that made the rounds on Weibo, and what's coming next.
Who Plays Xie Zheng in Pursuit of Jade?
Zhang Linghe plays Xie Zheng (谢征, Xiè Zhēng), the male lead of Pursuit of Jade — opposite Tian Xiwei as Fan Changyu. He plays the character under two names through the drama, because Xie Zheng spends most of the early episodes hiding his identity:
- Yan Zheng (言正) — his alias, the name he uses when Fan Changyu first finds him half-dead in a snowstorm
- Marquis of Wu'an (武安侯) — his true noble title, revealed gradually across the season
Xie Zheng's plot role
Xie Zheng is a young Marquis whose entire clan was massacred sixteen years earlier in a court conspiracy. He survives, gravely wounded, by being rescued from a snowstorm by Fan Changyu — a butcher's daughter from a remote village who needs a husband-of-convenience to keep her household intact. She proposes the contract marriage; he accepts, using her home as cover while he plans his revenge against the imperial court figures who destroyed his family.
The drama's structural premise — a fallen Marquis in disguise, a butcher's daughter who agrees to a 入赘 (matrilocal) marriage, the slow revelation of identity — is from the source novel 《逐玉》(Zhú Yù) by Tuan Zi Lai Xi (团子来袭). The contract-marriage-to-real-love arc is the engine of the whole season.
The strategy his character lives by is captured by a classical chengyu: 韬光养晦 (tāo guāng yǎng huì, "conceal the light, nurture in the dark") — Xie Zheng hides his title, his combat skill, and his lineage for over a decade, waiting until he has the position and the evidence to act. The chengyu 卧薪尝胆 (wò xīn cháng dǎn, "sleeping on firewood, tasting gall") names the same patient-revenge tradition.
For more on the character's finale arc — including how Fan Changyu becomes General Huaihua — see Does Fan Changyu Become a General? Pursuit of Jade Finale Explained.
The Two-Stage Breakout: Chang Heng → Xie Zheng
Zhang Linghe's career has had two distinct breakout moments — and most Western fans know him from one but not the other.
2022: Chang Heng in Love Between Fairy and Devil (苍兰诀)
His first international moment came as the second male lead in Love Between Fairy and Devil — the global Netflix/Viki/WeTV hit headlined by Esther Yu (Yu Shuxin) and Dylan Wang. Zhang played Chang Heng (长珩) / Xiao Run (萧润), the God of War of Shuiyuntian, in an unrequited-love arc that triggered the dreaded "second-lead syndrome" wave on Weibo, TikTok, and Twitter. International fandom adopted him then. This is also where his on-screen connection to Esther Yu began — he and Yu would co-lead My Journey to You (云之羽, 2023) a year later. See our Esther Yu (Yu Shuxin) Career Guide for that side of the story.
2026: Xie Zheng in Pursuit of Jade (逐玉)
Pursuit of Jade is the project that elevated him from popular costume-drama actor to top-tier 顶流 (dǐng liú, "top-traffic") star. By industry markers:
- First mainland Chinese drama ever to chart on Netflix's weekly Global Top 10 Non-English TV — debuted at #6, climbed to #5
- ~1.9 million Netflix views and 34.2 million hours watched in week 1
- ~750 million weekly all-platform views in China at peak
- 3.3 billion+ aggregate views by April 2026 (a figure Sixth Tone has noted may be inflated; Chinese drama viewership claims are widely scrutinized)
- 14 subtitle languages, 5 dub tracks, 191 countries/regions
- #1 character-popularity ranking for Zhang on Kuyun Data in week 11 of 2026 (score: 19,094)
For SEO context: most "zhang linghe" English searches in 2026 originate from one of these two entry points — viewers who fell for Chang Heng in 2022 returning to look him up, or new Pursuit-of-Jade Netflix viewers searching him for the first time.
Zhang Linghe's Best Dramas (Selective Filmography)
Out of ~16 drama credits since 2020, six matter most for Western viewers:
| Year | Drama | Role | Why it matters | |---|---|---|---| | 2022 | Love Between Fairy and Devil (苍兰诀) | Chang Heng / Xiao Run | Global Netflix breakout; second-lead-syndrome moment | | 2023 | My Journey to You (云之羽) | Gong Ziyu (male lead) | Wuxia; co-lead with Esther Yu | | 2023 | Story of Kunning Palace (宁安如梦) | Xie Wei (male lead) | Domestic mega-hit with Bai Lu; IMDb 8.1 | | 2024 | The Princess Royal (度华年) | Pei Wenxuan (male lead) | Costume romance, strong domestic reception | | 2025 | The Best Thing (爱你) | He Suye, a TCM doctor (male lead) | International viral hit; IMDb 8.3; expanded his Western fandom | | 2026 | Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) | Xie Zheng / Marquis Wu'an | Career-defining role; Netflix Top 10 |
Earlier work (2020-2021): Maiden Holmes (少女大人) — his TV debut as Prince Qi; Sparkle Love, Love Crossed, Flourish in Time, Refinement of Faith (CCTV anthology). Plus 2024 supporting work in Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact and Love's Rebellion, and 2025's youth-drama Our Generation (樱桃琥珀).
The "粉底液将军" (Foundation-Liquid General) Meme
One unique angle in Pursuit of Jade's reception that English-language coverage has largely missed: a half-mocking, half-affectionate Weibo meme that nicknamed Zhang's general-character "粉底液将军" (fěn dǐ yè jiāng jūn, "Foundation-Liquid General").
The joke: netizens noticed that Zhang's Xie Zheng character remains impeccably groomed even during battle scenes — his complexion stays flawless after bloodshed, as if he had reapplied foundation between takes. Critics on Yicai (the financial daily) and Zhihu argued that the high-gloss styling pulled viewers out of the drama's gritty premise. Fans defended the choice as part of the show's deliberate aestheticism.
The meme migrated to English-language fandom Twitter and TikTok as "Foundation Liquid General" and became a recurring half-affectionate fan reference. It captures a recurring tension around Zhang specifically: he is one of the most photogenic young leads in Chinese television, and his physical polish reads either as elegant or as miscast, depending on the role's tonal demands.
Brand Ambassadorships and the Luxury Pivot
Zhang's brand profile maps the trajectory of his career as cleanly as his filmography. By March 2026 he held roughly 16-20 brand endorsements, including:
- Gucci + Gucci Beauty — announced July 2024 (the moment Western luxury press first profiled him)
- Bulgari — January 2026
- Chopard, Roger Vivier
- Lancôme — since 2023
- Carslan, BELLE — Chinese domestic
Coverage from WWD, Tatler Asia, Harper's Bazaar Singapore, Metro.Style (ABS-CBN), and Vogue China has positioned him as a leading face of the new generation of Chinese stars crossing into Western luxury campaigns. He led Tatler Asia's 9 Rising C-Drama Stars Dominating 2026 list.
Upcoming Projects
Three projects are filmed or in production but not yet aired as of mid-2026:
Eternal Faith (吉星高照) — Heaven Official's Blessing live-action
The live-action adaptation of MXTX's massively popular novel Heaven Official's Blessing (天官赐福). Zhang Linghe plays Hua Cheng (花城) / San Lang — the Ghost King — opposite Zhai Xiaowen as Xie Lian (谢怜). Note: some secondary sources have this reversed; the correct casting is Zhang = Hua Cheng, Zhai = Xie Lian. Confirmed across Wikipedia, Baidu Baike, and 38jiejie. Filmed in 2021; release date repeatedly delayed.
The Road to Glory (归鸾)
A 40-episode Tencent historical romance. Zhang plays Xiao Li, a street rogue who rises to become King of Wei, opposite Lin Yun.
Overdo (这一秒过火)
A Republican-era drama where Zhang plays Murong Qingyi, a warlord's son. As of April 2026 the show has ~4.39 million iQIYI / Tencent pre-orders — a strong demand signal.
What People Search for About Zhang Linghe
Common queries the article addresses:
- Age: 28 (born 30 December 1997)
- Height: Reported as ~188 cm in fan profiles, never officially confirmed
- Education: Nanjing Normal University, Electrical Engineering
- Hometown: Wuxi, Jiangsu Province
- Girlfriend / wife: No confirmed public relationship. A 2024 dating rumour pairing him with Bai Lu (his Story of Kunning Palace co-star) was denied by Bai Lu's agency; she was confirmed single in 2024.
- Pursuit of Jade co-star Tian Xiwei (田曦薇): the fandom couple-name is "Zhengyu" (征玉) — from Xie Zheng + Changyu. No real-life relationship; pure ship name.
- "Why does he look so polished as a general?" — see the Foundation-Liquid General section above.
What Makes Zhang Linghe's Trajectory Distinctive
Two patterns worth noting for anyone trying to understand where his career sits:
The slow climb. Zhang's first major role was 2020. The Chang Heng moment came two years later — and crucially, it was as a second lead. The Xie Zheng moment came another four years after that. Most current 顶流 stars cycle faster. The chengyu 大器晚成 (dà qì wǎn chéng, "a great vessel takes time to form") fits the shape of his ascent — recognition at 24, A-list confirmation at 28.
The luxury-press signal. His Gucci ambassadorship in mid-2024 was an early indicator that Western tastemakers were watching him before Pursuit of Jade broke globally. Western luxury houses pick brand faces with attention to drama trajectories they expect to land. The pattern usually correlates: where the Vogue / WWD profile pieces appear before the global drama hit, the global hit tends to follow.
Related Pursuit of Jade reading: Does Fan Changyu Become a General? Finale Explained · What Does Pursuit of Jade Mean? The Drama's Title & Jade Symbolism Explained · The Real History Behind Pursuit of Jade: Matrilocal Marriage, Military Purges & Women Warriors
Sister career guide: Esther Yu (Yu Shuxin) Career Guide — Zhang Linghe's Love Between Fairy and Devil & My Journey to You co-star
Related Chinese idioms about patience, hidden ambition, and the long climb: 韬光养晦 · 卧薪尝胆 · 大器晚成 · 心照不宣. Or browse all 1,000+ Chinese idioms.
Related Chinese Idioms
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一鸣惊人
yī míng jīng rén
Sudden, remarkable success
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百折不挠
bǎi zhé bù náo
Unshakeable despite adversity
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shuǐ dī shí chuān
Persistence achieves anything
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门庭若市
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Extremely popular
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Value time preciously
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The Pursuit of Jade Universe
More about Pursuit of Jade (逐玉)
Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) Family Tree & Character Relationships: How Three Families Orbit One Buried Crime
Pursuit of Jade's family tree only makes sense once you see the buried center: Crown Prince Chengde, dead before Episode 1. The Xie, Fan, and imperial families each carry a different piece of his story. Here's who's related to whom — and what wound each lineage actually inherits.
Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) Politics Explained: The 16-Year Conspiracy Behind the Jinzhou Case
The political plot of Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) is layered: Prince Changxin is the public antagonist, Wei Yan the executor, Qi Min the hidden first-mover — and the dead emperor is the real architect. Here's how the 16-year Jinzhou conspiracy actually works.
Tian Xiwei (田曦薇) Best Dramas & Career Guide: From New Life Begins to Fan Changyu in Pursuit of Jade
Tian Xiwei (田曦薇, born 1997) plays Fan Changyu in Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) — the butcher's-daughter-turned-General Huaihua role that made her one of China's 'four small dan' actresses. Here's her career from New Life Begins to Pursuit of Jade, plus what's next.
What Time Period & Dynasty Is Pursuit of Jade Set In? The Fictional Dayin Dynasty (大胤) Explained
Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) is set in the fictional Dayin Dynasty (大胤) — not a real Chinese period. Here's what the dynasty actually is, why the writers invented it, and which real Chinese dynasties (Tang, Song, Ming) the drama blends together.
Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) Ending Explained: Every Thread Resolved
Pursuit of Jade closes with a Prince Regent walking away from power, a butcher hanging her father's knife in a Marquis hall, and an Empress Dowager rising over a poisoned husband. Here's what every thread means.
Does Fan Changyu Become a General? Yes — General Huaihua (怀化将军). The Pursuit of Jade Finale Arc Explained
Yes — Fan Changyu becomes General Huaihua (怀化将军) in the Pursuit of Jade finale, after killing Prince Changxin — the senior conspirator she holds responsible for the Jinzhou massacre — with her father's butcher knife. Here's exactly what General Huaihua means, how she earns the title, and the Chinese idioms behind her butcher-to-general arc.
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