The Child Riding the Dragon

This film (drama)Also known as赤子乘龙，is aMainland ChinaProducerbeauty live，At2005Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin Chinese，Current Douban rating7.6(For reference only)。

Eight-year-old orphan Yuanbao repeats the same dream every night, where his mother holds him and sings nursery rhymes. But no matter how hard Yuanbao tries, he can't see his mother's face. His greatest wish is to find his family. He is taken in by a down-and-out performer, Wang Jili, who is greedy and harsh, favoring his spoiled biological daughter, Wang Mingzhu. Yuanbao endures abuse and is forced to engage in petty theft. The only one in the troupe who is kind to him is Feicui, also an orphan, who is older than Yuanbao but not as clever; she is unattractive and often bullied by Wang Mingzhu, relying on Yuanbao to help her out of trouble. This pair of unfortunate orphans live for each other... Yuanbao, clever and mischievous, often causes Wang Jili to suffer the consequences and thus frequently faces punishment. On one occasion, after being kicked into a dark cave by Wang Jili, Yuanbao playfully relieves himself in the cave and accidentally releases the dragon princess trapped in a dragon cocoon. It turns out that ten years ago, the Dragon King, who helped the emperor seize the throne, was imprisoned in a massive ice block due to his accomplishments overshadowing the emperor. On that fateful day, the dragon princess lost the Dragon Pearl, the treasure of the dragon clan, due to her playful nature and was then trapped in the cocoon by her father, allowing her to escape disaster. After the dragon princess emerges, she is unfamiliar with human emotions and affairs. Innocent and adorable by nature, she gradually adapts to human life after forming a close bond with Yuanbao. Using her minor spells, she delights in pranking the despicable Wang Jili and Mingzhu, bringing joy to Yuanbao and Feicui. Feicui, facing a tough fate, is injured one day and falls into a coma, leaving Yuanbao heartbroken. To comfort him, the dragon princess exhausts her own spirit, entering Feicui's body to create the illusion that Feicui has awakened. After awakening, Feicui's personality changes drastically, her freckles disappear, and her front teeth remarkably grow back, turning her into a stunning beauty. Wang Mingzhu, who always prided herself on her looks, becomes incredibly envious upon seeing this transformation. Prince Li Bin, gentle and loving, has a personality that sharply contrasts with that of the ruthless emperor. Despite their good father-son relationship, there's no emotional closeness between them. Li Bin enjoys connecting with the common people and often sneaks out of the palace to make friends but frequently falls victim to ambushes. Confused, he discovers that it’s his aunt (the eldest princess) who has been instigating attacks via her confidant, Yao Lie. Li Bin is good friends with the water worker Yan Cheng, and out of kindness, he often helps the honest yet simple Yan Cheng solve problems. Yan Cheng has long harbored feelings for the kind-hearted Feicui but is beset by troubles due to his betrothed, Mingzhu. Wang Jili looks down on Yan Cheng because of his poor family background and calls off the engagement. However, after awakening, Feicui has changed, no longer liking Yan Cheng but instead falling for her teacher, Li Bin. Yan Cheng is unaware that Feicui is actually the dragon princess and feels sorrowful that his love has changed. While the dragon princess searches for her father, she encounters the long-lost dragon prince and the Dragon King's confidante, Yu Jiaolong, and is overjoyed to reunite with old friends. Shortly thereafter, Yao Lie, the eldest princess's confidant, mysteriously arrives. It turns out that Yao Lie is a childhood playmate of the dragon princess; years ago, the two little dragons frolicked at the Heavenly Pool waterfall, carefree and happy. In a hot spring bathhouse, several dragons celebrate their reunion. But the grim and resolute Yao Lie is intent on revenge and helps the dragon princess rescue the imprisoned Dragon King! Yuanbao faces numerous challenges and, with the dragon princess's help, finally discovers that the eldest princess is the mother he longs to see every day, which brings him immense joy. Returning to his mother's embrace, he uncovers the past about why she and the emperor forced her into hiding. The eldest princess loved a commoner and gave birth to Yuanbao; since the emperor would not accept the union, he took cruel revenge, leading to the death of her lover and leaving Yuanbao missing. For years, she has sought revenge, intending not only to assassinate Prince Li Bin but also to harm the emperor. After recognizing her son, the eldest princess’s character shifts dramatically; she becomes gentle and kind again, abandoning her once violent and cruel nature. To save the Dragon King, the dragon princess and Yao Lie train rigorously. After great difficulty, they find the Fire Pearl, break the ice, and rescue the Dragon King. However, with the two families at odds, the love between Li Bin and the dragon princess can no longer blossom into anything real! Yet they insist on loving each other, which touches the Dragon King, who agrees to let them marry. But the emperor is scheming, using the wedding to lower the Dragon King's guard before attempting to assassinate him. Yan Cheng’s mother is taken hostage by the emperor and forced to commit evil acts. Yao Lie, fierce and bold, retaliates against the emperor. Li Bin and the dragon princess constantly mediate between them, striving to alleviate misunderstandings and anger on both sides. Unfortunately, in the end, both the emperor and the Dragon King die in mutual destruction. Yao Lie, envious of Li Bin's love for the dragon princess, resorts to selling Mingzhu to gain magical powers to transform into a demon dragon. He defeats Li Bin and coerces the dragon princess into marrying him, putting Yuanbao and other children in danger. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Yan Cheng partners with Li Bin and Yuanbao to find the Ice Arrow needed to subdue the demon dragon. Yuanbao acquires the Ice Arrow and prepares to shoot Yao Lie but hesitates, realizing the beauty of forgiveness. Yao Lie, harboring a flicker of goodness, willingly meets the Ice Arrow, reminiscing about the carefree days when the two little dragons played at the Heavenly Pool waterfall, a hint of feeling buried deep within him. The dragon princess weeps sorrowfully. Seeing Yan Cheng still cannot forget Feicui, the dragon princess is moved by Yan Cheng's deep affection. Exhausting her energy, she awakens Feicui from her coma, allowing Yan Cheng and Feicui to finally be together. The dragon princess’s spirit drifts into the void, while Li Bin abandons his throne and crosses mountains and rivers to seek the dragon princess. Yuanbao, at ten years old, ascends the throne, determined to be a good emperor who benefits his people.