"Let's not talk about who that girl is, but her identity must be extraordinary. Moreover, I have a feeling that you know this girl. Aren't you afraid that her family will come after you if you take her there?"
"This is the punishment for her running away without permission. As for her family, well, as long as she's alive." Huo Qizhou gave a soft laugh.
Yan Mo felt goosebumps rising. This guy was truly crazy. Chances were that this girl was the daughter of his enemy.
"There are so many people in the opera troupe. It's impossible for you and me to know who those people will target. I saw in the case files that the missing girls were all good - looking and from decent families. Otherwise, this case wouldn't have been assigned to you."
"You want to use her as bait? Are you crazy!" Yan Mo was shocked. "Is that thing so important? You're simply, simply insane!"
"Of course it's important."
"I don't agree." Yan Mo pulled a long face and stopped playing with the pebbles in his hand. These thieves were really bold. They even dared to target the children of court officials and still stayed here instead of running away. Who was backing them?
"Can you send her back?" Huo Qizhou raised an eyebrow slightly.
Yan Mo's face changed. He reached out and lifted the curtain of the carriage. Sure enough, he saw a carriage following behind. The girl's inquisitive gaze met his, and then she shrank back into the carriage guiltily.
Shi Muyuan leaned against the carriage wall, covering her pounding heart. Oh no, she'd been discovered. Would she be sent back?
As soon as Yan Mo's carriage left, she and Yao Kun quickly followed. Although Yan Mo was right that it wasn't very safe, she thought it would be okay. Yao Kun was very skilled, and she had learned some self - defense skills when she was a city guard. She just wanted to watch the show and then go back. It would be quick, so she had the courage to come.
After waiting for a long time and noticing no movement outside, she thought that maybe the guy was too embarrassed to send her back. After all, they had just met. So she stopped worrying and relaxed.
However, in the carriage in front, Yan Mo was blocked inside by Sun Ru, though Sun Ru didn't really want to do it.
"Sun Ru, get out of the way."
How dare Sun Ru let him go? He shook his head and blocked Yan Mo inside.
"I'm just trying to increase our chances of success."
"But we don't need to be so unscrupulous and use a girl as bait."
"I didn't know that the esteemed deputy magistrate of the Supreme Court of Judicature was so kind - hearted."
"I'm just doing my job impartially. These two girls are innocent. There's no need for them to get involved. The girl doesn't know anything about the court affairs."
Huo Qizhou glanced at him. "Don't worry. Although I'm on bad terms with her family, I'm not a bad person. I'll protect her."
"Humph, Huo Qizhou, you're really good at talking. We've been friends for so many years, and I never knew you were so heartless. Why are you wearing white clothes? You're just pretending."
Unexpectedly, Huo Qizhou sighed, looking quite helpless. "I can't help it. I'm the national master after all."
"Those people may not even choose her."
"Pfft." Yan Mo was extremely angry.
Although he was usually a bit of a rascal, he was sure that he was more of a human being than this respected national master.
There was nothing he could do. Yan Mo decided to be more vigilant later. He didn't plan to rely on this hypocrite.
Yao Kun carefully drove the carriage, following the one in front. Soon, they saw a huge tent rising abruptly in the forest. There were many wooden carvings hanging outside, painted with ink colors. It was really novel.
There were already many carriages of different sizes parked around the tent. People getting off the carriages were curiously looking at this strange tent. Some bold ones walked directly to the tent to examine the ink - painted wooden carvings.
As soon as the carriage in front stopped, Yan Mo was about to lift the curtain and get off when he heard Huo Qizhou's clear voice behind him. "Worrying will make you lose your composure. There won't be such a good opportunity next time. I hope Deputy Magistrate Yan can act more appropriately."
Yan Mo's face darkened. "Don't bother. Since things have come to this, I naturally know what to do." Then he got off the carriage.
He had cooperated with Huo Qizhou several times. He considered them friends and knew that Huo Qizhou would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He didn't quite approve of his methods, but they were on the same side. Although his methods were a bit harsh, Yan Mo didn't think much of it. He never expected that Huo Qizhou would use such means on two girls today.
Although he was the deputy magistrate of the Supreme Court of Judicature, he wasn't so heartless. Yan Mo was suddenly curious about who the father of the girl in the green dress was. What had he done to make Huo Qizhou so resentful?
Shi Muyuan got off the carriage happily and led Yao Kun towards the tent, eager to watch the performance.
There was a bearded man standing at the entrance. His vulture - like eyes were constantly scanning the spectators approaching the tent. Suddenly, he noticed Shi Muyuan walking towards him. A glint flashed in his turbid eyes and then disappeared.
He waved over a servant, whispered a few words to him while standing sideways, and then turned to enter the tent. Before leaving, his eyes sized up Shi Muyuan.
The servant received the order and remembered the faces of Shi Muyuan and Yao Kun. Then he quietly left in the crowd.
After getting off the carriage, Yan Mo quickly spotted Shi Muyuan and Yao Kun thanks to his tall stature. He strode forward and walked side by side with them.
When Shi Muyuan saw him, she let down her guard and forced a smile. After all, he had kindly advised her earlier, but she still followed. She felt a bit guilty for rejecting his kindness.
"Ahahaha, what a coincidence. I've met you three times today, sir."
"Is it really a coincidence?"
"Of course it is." Shi Muyuan answered firmly.
"I thought the carriage following mine was yours, miss. It seems I was mistaken." Yan Mo was amused by her expression. His tone softened, and he even joked with her.
"Hahaha, sir, you're really good at joking." Wasn't it a joke? They had just made eye contact, and he said he had mistaken her. He was obviously teasing her!
"I still don't know how to address you, miss."
Shi Muyuan pursed her lips and thought for a while. "You can just call me Miss Shi."
"Are you from the Shi family?" Yan Mo looked at her in surprise. No wonder Huo Qizhou was so annoyed. Shi An had caused trouble for Huo Qizhou not long ago.
"But I've never heard of your name before."
There were few young people in the Shi family. The older generation had gone to the battlefield. Many had died young, and most of them had no children. Only Shi An's family had four children. The only girl had become the current empress dowager. There had been no news of any other young female members in the Shi family.