The Story of Liu Yi and the Dragon Princess-Stories of China

During the Tang Dynasty, the scholar Liu Yi, having failed the imperial examinations, was returning to his hometown alone on horseback, his spirits low. It was springtime in the Jiangnan region, a time of beautiful scenery, but Liu Yi found no joy in it. One day, he traveled to the banks of the Jing River and saw a young and beautiful woman tending sheep. The woman had lovely features, yet her face was full of sorrow, and her clothes were tattered, standing out starkly against the surrounding landscape. Liu Yi felt pity for her and went forward to inquire. Choking back tears, the woman revealed her true identity, she was the youngest daughter of the Dragon King of Dongting Lake, married to the second son of the Dragon King of the Jing River. However, her husband was violent and cruel, showing her no affection and frequently abusing her, making her life in the cold water mansion like that of a prisoner. Helplessly, she begged Liu Yi to deliver a letter to her father far away in Dongting Lake, hoping for rescue. Although Liu Yi knew the Dragon Palace was mysterious and unpredictable, he was moved by the Dragon Girl's tragic plight and readily agreed. Saying goodbye to the Dragon Girl, Liu Yi endured many hardships to reach the shores of Dongting Lake. Following the Dragon Girl's instructions, he called out, and the lake surface suddenly parted, revealing a passage leading to the bottom. Gathering his courage, Liu Yi entered the Dragon Palace and met the majestic Dragon King of Dongting Lake. Liu Yi explained his purpose to the Dragon King and presented him with the letter from the Dragon Girl, filled with her tears and grievances. After reading the letter, the Dragon King was filled with furious rage, learning that his beloved daughter had suffered such torment. His royal countenance was thunderous with anger. He immediately summoned his aquatic generals, dispatching a valiant and skilled army to the Jing River Water Mansion, vowing to punish the wicked son-in-law and rescue his daughter. Under the Dragon King's command, the Dragon Palace army swiftly arrived at the Jing River Water Mansion and engaged in a fierce battle with the evil dragon and his followers. Lightning flashed and thunder roared, the lake waters churned, and the aquatic soldiers fought bravely. In the end, the tyrannical Jing River Dragon Prince was captured, the Jing River Water Mansion was destroyed, and the Dragon Girl, who had suffered greatly, was finally freed. The Dragon King of Dongting Lake was immensely grateful for Liu Yi's righteous assistance and hosted a lavish banquet in the Dragon Palace to entertain him. The magnificent splendor of the Dragon Palace astonished Liu Yi, and the generosity and warmth of the Dragon Clan deeply moved him. The Dragon Girl, now free, also attended the banquet, her face radiant, and she was filled with gratitude towards Liu Yi. During the banquet, the Dragon King intentionally brought Liu Yi and his beloved daughter closer. Liu Yi was also deeply attracted to the beautiful and kind Dragon Girl, and they found themselves mutually drawn to each other. With the Dragon King's encouragement, Liu Yi and the Dragon Girl held a grand wedding ceremony in the Dragon Palace. The wedding scene was romantic and magnificent, with aquatic beings coming from all directions to offer their congratulations. After the wedding, Liu Yi and the Dragon Girl lived a happy and fulfilling life in the Dragon Palace, bringing the wondrous tale of a mortal scholar and a dragon princess to a perfect conclusion.