Actually, she was curious what a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl was doing staring at a young man. She really was, it couldn’t be that she was dragged out to accompany her meeting a lover.
Lin Qianqing only sighed grievously, "Yes, of course I know him, but now that’s all I can do—know him!"
"...What do you mean by that, cousin?" Gu Youyou felt that the expression of a wronged woman seemed particularly strange on the face of her young fourteen or fifteen-year-old cousin.
But she whispered, "The Emperor is selecting consorts for his two sons, all daughters of officials of the third rank and above, aged fourteen to eighteen, must participate in the selection, and I am among them."
"My mother told me before that she intended to marry me to my eldest cousin from my maternal side and that had already been decided, but now... my father says I can forget about my eldest cousin. Given my identity as the legitimate daughter of the Lin Family, becoming part of the Imperial Family as a wife is almost certain."
Gu Youyou: "...So, cousin, do you actually fancy your eldest cousin?"
"Fancy?" Lin Qianqing blinked and sighed again, "For all these years, I’ve always regarded him as my future husband, but once the Imperial Edict arrived at our home, I could only consider him as my eldest cousin. Is it a matter of fancying him, or is it just not being used to it?"
Gu Youyou glanced across and then said with a laugh, "If you didn’t fancy him, why would you come here? Don’t tell me this is how you guys usually meet?"
"Of course not. I used to go directly to my maternal grandfather’s place, but now my father won’t allow me."
This child, such a small thing, probably can’t understand feelings at all.
"Then why did you drag me into this?" Gu Youyou asked again.
"For you, of course!"
What Lin Qianqing said next nearly scared Gu Youyou to death.
"My eldest cousin is so great, the direct eldest son of the Ducal Residence’s third household, a truly distinguished gentleman. The saying goes, ’Why let the family’s water irrigate someone else’s field?’ Since I no longer have a chance to marry him, you can! That’s why I’m here today—to introduce you to him."
Gu Youyou held her forehead and hurriedly said, "No need, no need, this... Ai, isn’t there Lin Zixin, your younger cousin? Just introduce your eldest cousin to her."
"Her?" Lin Qianqing scoffed disdainfully, "She’s just a child born from a concubine, how can she be a match for my cousin? Aye, cousin, didn’t I say, my cousin is the direct eldest son of the Ducal Residence, how could he possibly marry a daughter born from a concubine, she’s not the Princess."
Gu Youyou: "..." The ancient people’s peculiar views on family hierarchy, where the legitimate often looked down on the illegitimate, were normal.
But..."I am a country girl."
Lin Qianqing didn’t see it as an issue, "What’s the big deal about that? Our grandmother was also a country girl, and now isn’t our grandmother still a first rank noble lady with an imperial decree? Who dares to look down upon her?"
Ah no, that’s not the point here.
"Ah, he’s coming out!"
Just as Gu Youyou was about to say something, she saw Lin Qianqing’s eyes light up as she dashed out.
Gu Youyou held her forehead and called out loudly, "...Hey, hey, eldest cousin, don’t... "
"Eldest cousin, what a coincidence, you’re here too!"
Gu Youyou hurriedly chased after her, and there her eldest cousin was, having already bumped into the cousin.
"Cousin, you came out again? Did your aunt say anything?" Her eldest cousin seemed surprised.
Lin Qianqing giggled and replied, "My grandmother allowed it, took my cousin out for a walk. Oh, you haven’t met my cousin yet, let me introduce you."
The innocent Gu Youyou was dragged over forcibly.