Chai Shao's grandfather Chai Lie was once the General of the Cavalry of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. He served as the governor of the two prefectures of Liang and was named Guanjun County Duke. Li Yuan's father Li Bing was appointed as the Censor of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the Chief Supervisor of Anzhou, and the General of the Zhu Kingdom. He was appointed as the Duke of Tang. The Chai and Li families had a good relationship as early as the generation of Li Yuan's father. By the time of Li Yuan's generation, they could be called a family friendship.

Li Yuan and Chai Shao's father Chai Shen were also quite intimate. It was precisely because of this that the two had already had a engagement as early as when Chai Shao and Princess Pingyang were still children. When Princess Pingyang arrived at the age of her birth, she and Chai Shao were officially engaged. However, Empress Dou was in poor health at that time and did not want her daughter to leave her too early, so the two did not get married. Later, Empress Dou died and Princess Pingyang was mainly mourning for three years, and the marriage was completely delayed.

It was not until Princess Pingyang was almost nineteen years old that her mourning period ended. However, the world was in chaos at that time, and Li Yuan had no intention of marrying a daughter. However, later he secretly prepared to rebel. In order to dispel the suspicion of the court, he planned to marry Princess Pingyang and Chai Shao who was staying in Chang'an, and sent Princess Pingyang as a hostage to the Sui court in disguise.

Princess Pingyang did not know in advance what her father was about to rebel, nor did she know the purpose of sending her to get married. After all, she was a woman. Even if she was favored by Li Yuan, Li Yuan would rather discuss these things with Li Shimin, who was one year younger than her, and would never tell Princess Pingyang. Therefore, Princess Pingyang had always simply thought that she was going to get married, and she didn't know that her marriage was still restricted by so many things.

However, Chai Shao's father Chai Shen had seen through Li Yuan's plan for a long time and knew that Li Yuan was going to rebel. After all, he was Li Yuan's friend for many years and could not know much about Li Yuan. Just before Princess Pingyang went to Chang'an, Chai Shen came to Taiyuan alone to meet Li Yuan. The two had a secret talk overnight before leaving.

Chai Shen came to see Li Yuan mainly to negotiate terms with him. At that time, he was not optimistic about the situation of the Sui Dynasty, but he did not have the ambition and courage of Li Yuan, and he did not dare to rebel, so he wanted to get on the Li Yuan's chariot.

Regarding the marriage between his son and Princess Pingyang, Chai Shen told Li Yuan that he could agree, but in this way, their Chai family would also have to bear certain risks, and even Chai Shen would risk losing a son, because before Li Yuan officially launched a military campaign, Chai Shao and Princess Pingyang would stay in Chang'an, so he proposed conditions to Li Yuan that if the Li family really won the world in the future, they would have to treat their Chai family well and never let them down!

Li Yuan was poor and had no confidence at that time, so he was very grateful for Chai Shen's support. For the conditions he proposed, he even made a pity to ensure that he would never forget the kindness of the Chai family. This made Chai Shen finally leave Taiyuan with satisfaction.

"On the day we got married, the news of my father's rebellion finally reached Chang'an. At that time, Chai Shao and I were having a wedding, but neither of his parents came. I was still very confused about this. Later, I realized that they were worried about danger, so everyone in the Chai family left Chang'an early, leaving Chai Shao alone to marry me."

When she said this, Princess Pingyang paused and then said, "I remember the situation very clearly at that time. Before the church was completed, the guests who received the news left one after another, for fear of being implicated. Uncle Ma arranged for me to escape from Chang'an before I could even replace the wedding uniform. Then the pursuers of the Great Sui court chased me up. In order to escape, Chai Shao actually left us all and ran away alone. At the beginning, I couldn't believe it was true. After I was convinced, I was so angry that I burned the wedding uniform. From that time on, I would never recognize Chai Shao as my husband again!"

At the end of the day, Princess Pingyang's face was rarely seen with a hint of resentment, but then she returned to calm. She had already thought it through, and it was not worth getting angry about people like Chai Shao.

"A person like Chai Shao is indeed not worthy of the princess' anger!" Li Xiu said with some annoyance at this time. He had heard Ma Master talk about this before, but now he still felt very angry when he heard the princess say it in person. What Chai Shao did is simply a big deal. In order to escape, even his newlywed wife can be left behind. No wonder Princess Pingyang cannot forgive him!

"Well, thank you for your advice!" Princess Pingyang nodded to Li Xiu at this time, and then continued, "Later, when I met my father again, I also mentioned that I wanted to terminate the marriage with Chai Shao. However, the father promised to treat the Chai family well. In addition, Chai Shao also made some contributions in the army, so I kept advising me to think twice. Later, I hoped that I would forgive Chai Shao. In addition, some of the secondary reasons I had mentioned before, this matter was delayed!"

"Does Your Majesty's current attitude hope that the princess and Chai Shao will reunite?" Li Xiu asked again at this time.

"Yes, although I don't think of Chai Shao's character, he is still somewhat talented in military affairs. He has made many contributions with his second brother over the years. In addition, he often shows himself in front of his father, so his attitude towards him has also changed." Princess Pingyang sighed at this time and said, if she could hold on, Li Yuan might have really terminated his marriage with Chai Shao, but now the time has passed, and it would be more troublesome to terminate the marriage again.

"What about you, Princess, what do you think?" Li Xiu asked at Princess Pingyang with a little gaze.

"What do I want?" Princess Pingyang was a little nervous when Li Xiu's aggressive gaze looked at him, and said at a loss.

"Marriage is like a cage for the princess. Instead of staying in this cage and watching the old age, why not break free from this cage and find a new life?" Li Xiu said in his eyes, and at this moment, he suddenly felt an unprecedented impulse surge in his chest. No matter what, he was unwilling to sit and watch Princess Pingyang trapped in the cage.

Feeling the burning heat in Li Xiu's eyes, Princess Pingyang felt even more panicked. She kept bumping into her chest like a deer, and her eyes didn't dare to look at him, and even became a little difficult to speak.

"I don't know!" After a long time, Princess Pingyang said in a panic. Li Xiu's question was too sudden, and she didn't know how to answer it for a while.

"Xiu Ning, you are a decisive woman, so you must know how to choose. If you want to terminate your marriage with Chai Shao, just nod it. I will help you with the rest!" Li Xiu showed an unprecedented domineering expression. He has never been an active person, but this time he made an exception and took the initiative.

Hearing Li Xiu's name in his words, Princess Pingyang finally raised her head and looked at Li Xiu, with a confused look in her eyes. No matter how strong she is, she is still a woman. Sometimes she hopes to have a strong arm to rely on. Li Xiu's words just now made her feel as if she had a support. Although the young man in front of her doesn't look very tall and majestic, in her heart, she is worth entrusting more than anyone else.

Thinking of the above, Princess Pingyang finally strengthened her belief and nodded heavily at the moment, which also made Li Xiu smile brightly. As long as Princess Pingyang is willing, he will have a way to dissolve the nameless marriage between her and Chai Shao.

It was getting late, and Li Xiu stood up and sent Princess Pingyang home. The two of them didn't say anything along the way, but they both felt that their relationship was closer. Qi Niang seemed to feel that the atmosphere between them was a little subtle. She kept looking at Li Xiu and the princess along the way, and there was also a puzzled expression on her little face, and she didn't know what she was thinking.

Finally, she finally arrived at the gate of the other courtyard, and Princess Pingyang was about to enter, but at this moment she looked at Li Xiu reluctantly, and opened her mouth several times to say something, but she didn't know how to speak.

"Princess, thank you for helping me grow flowers and plants today. As the saying goes, help people to the end. I wonder if you can help me tomorrow?" Li Xiu saw the expression on Princess Pingyang's face and spoke up.

"Well, I will definitely go tomorrow morning!" Princess Pingyang said with a shy expression again when she heard this. After saying that, she lowered her head and didn't dare to look at Li Xiu.

"Then I'm going to make a decision. I'll wait for you there tomorrow!" Li Xiu couldn't help laughing when he saw Princess Pingyang's shy appearance. After saying that, he said goodbye to Princess Pingyang, and then left with Qi Niang. Princess Pingyang stood in front of the mansion and looked at Li Xiu's back as he left. She waited until she couldn't see him, and then she entered the mansion with a sweet smile.

However, just as Princess Pingyang left the mansion, she saw Ma stepping out of the door of the mansion. He saw Princess Pingyang's performance just now. At this time, he looked at Princess Pingyang's back as she left, then looked at the direction of Li Xiu's departure. He couldn't help but curse angrily: "This brat is too brave!"

On the way home, Qi Niang kept looking at Li Xiu with her little face raised, and finally couldn't help but say, "Brother, what did you say to Sister Xiuning? I feel like she is very happy?"

"Haha, this is a secret. You will understand when Qi Niang grows up!" Li Xiu was in a good mood and immediately bent down and smiled at her.

"Ah, when will I grow up?" Qi Niang said with some dissatisfaction here. Children all hope to grow up as soon as possible, but they didn't know that when they grew up, most people hoped to stay in their childhood forever.

When she returned home, the bearded guest had not woken up yet, Yuechan and Liu'er had already prepared supper. As soon as Qi Niang entered the living room, she heard a thunderous snoring sound from the study room next to her. She seemed to run over and take a look, and soon ran out and said, "Brother, why is this bearded uncle coming again? You won't have to argue again today, right?"

"Hehe, don't worry, my brother won't quarrel with this uncle anymore. When he wakes up, my brother will make a good fool of himself. He must have a good chat with him!" When Li Xiu said this, a malicious look appeared on his face. The bearded guest who was sleeping in the study seemed to feel cold, and his whole body shivered, then turned over and continued to fall asleep. To be continued.

...
Chapter completed!