65. A Hero Saving a Beauty

As planned that afternoon, they needed to act with absolute conviction to touch Ouyang Ye’s heart. Lowering his status, Shang Zhixia knelt beside Qi Qi before Dugu Jing, pleading with a sorrowful tone, "Father-in-law, please grant us your blessing. Qi-mei and I have grown up together since childhood, sweethearts from a tender age, and we have long regarded each other as indispensable lifelong partners. I beg you, do not let Qi-mei be married off to an old man old enough to be her father. Although I may not be as wealthy as that old man right now, youth is my greatest capital. I am young, and I will have opportunities to make a fortune in the future. Please give me a chance and let me prove myself, will you?"

Shang Zhixia spoke with such genuine emotion that it almost made Qi Qi and Yue'er, who were watching from the side, burst into laughter. If they were back in the modern era, Shang Zhixia would undoubtedly have been a natural-born actor. Besides, Yue'er thought that Qi Qi and Shang Zhixia actually made a rather well-matched pair.

Seeing how brilliantly Shang Zhixia and Qi Qi were performing, Dugu Jing could not afford to be outdone. Putting on a drunken facade, he brandished a blade and pointed it at Qi Qi, shouting, "Get back home with me! Mister Li will come to fetch you this evening. If you aren't there, how am I supposed to face him? Oh, my good daughter, surely you don't want to watch your father die at the hands of Mister Li tonight!"

With that, he stepped forward to pull Qi Qi along. Qi Qi deliberately put up a hesitant struggle, allowing Dugu Jing to drag her away, knowing that this would make the scene all the more convincing. On one hand, she longed to be with the one she loved; on the other hand, she could not bear to see her father driven to death because of her. Such hesitation was essential for the ruse. As she glanced back, she caught sight of a pair of cold, piercing eyes observing everything from within the room. Qi Qi subtly signaled to Shang Zhixia and Yue'er. Sure enough, only Yue'er and Qi Qi could see through the window, and Ouyang Ye was indeed watching the scene unfold from inside.

Yue'er smiled at Shang Zhixia, who instantly understood. He rushed forward to grab Qi Qi’s hand, preventing her and Dugu Jing from leaving. Clutching Qi Qi’s hand, he pleaded desolately, "Qi-mei, do not go with him! I cannot live without you. Qi-mei, Qi-mei, Qi-mei..."

He was nearly moved to tears. Yue'er could not help but admire Shang Zhixia's superb acting skills, which had even infected the onlookers. One by one, the spectators cast sympathetic glances at Shang Zhixia, finding it utterly unexpected that a Minister of Works would resort to such extraordinary tactics to solve a case.

Dugu Jing wore a fierce expression as he scolded Shang Zhixia, "Let go of her this instant, or don't blame me for being ruthless!" He raised his heavy saber in a threatening manner—not to intimidate Shang Zhixia, but rather to sway the onlookers. He signaled for Qi Qi to release Shang Zhixia's grip, calculating that this would provide an even stronger provocation to Ouyang Ye inside the house. Qi Qi slowly let go of Shang Zhixia. Although the surrounding crowd sympathized with Shang Zhixia, not a single person was willing to step forward and speak up for him, for they all understood the helplessness of a father.

Inside the room, Ouyang Ye was suddenly struck by a memory of how he had once pleaded in the exact same manner before Xia's father, only to be met with a cold, unyielding refusal. What he despised most was the betrayal of Xia Yueji. Ouyang Ye had always convinced himself that Xia Yueji being drugged and violated by her father constituted a betrayal of him. Consumed by his own extreme selfishness, he harbored a profound hatred for young girls forced into marriages with wealthy old men.

Watching the scene outside, Ouyang Ye grabbed his heavy saber and strode out of the house after Qi Qi and Dugu Jing had departed. He cast a single, cold glance at Shang Zhixia, then quickened his pace in the direction Qi Qi and the others had taken. Realizing something was amiss, Yue'er and Shang Zhixia hurried after him, knowing their plan might have finally succeeded.

The moment Ouyang Ye caught up to them, he raised his heavy saber and swung it directly at Dugu Jing. Dugu Jing shielded Qi Qi and nimbly dodged the strike. He then directed Qi Qi to a safe spot before engaging Ouyang Ye in combat. Both men wielded blades, yet their styles were vastly different. Ouyang Ye’s saber technique was vicious and merciless, launching relentless attacks without leaving any room for retreat. Dugu Jing’s technique, however, was exceptionally swift, though he intended to capture his opponent alive so that Ouyang Ye could confess to his crimes in his own words. Consequently, Dugu Jing held back from delivering any fatal blows, fighting with measured restraint.

Yet, Ouyang Ye was no match for Dugu Jing. After a dozen exchanges, Ouyang Ye began to show signs of strain and defeat. Realizing that he would surely lose if the prolonged duel continued, he suddenly pivoted and launched a vicious attack toward Qi Qi, terrifying the martial-arts-ignited girl out of her wits.

Seeing this, Yue'er and Shang Zhixia accelerated. Just as Ouyang Ye’s blade was about to strike Qi Qi, Shang Zhixia executed his lightness skill, flying through the air to shield her. Ouyang Ye’s blade slashed deep into Shang Zhixia’s arm, though fortunately, Dugu Jing had simultaneously struck Ouyang Ye’s back, greatly dampening the force of the blow. Had it not been for that intervention, Shang Zhixia’s arm would likely have been completely severed.

Ouyang Ye spun around to retaliate against Dugu Jing, but the severe injury to his back robbed him of his strength, and he was quickly subdued by Dugu Jing.

Shang Zhixia was severely wounded. Yue'er hastily administered first aid to stem the bleeding, then immediately turned to Qi Qi, saying, "Qi-mei, escort the Minister back to the official residence right away and summon a physician to treat his wounds. I am going to search Ouyang Ye’s residence. Do not worry, I checked his injuries just now—his bones and tendons are unharmed!"

Qi Qi nodded and supported the injured Shang Zhixia. Yue'er looked at Shang Zhixia and promised, "My Lord, go back and tend to your wounds. Leave the aftermath to me!"

Shang Zhixia smiled with absolute trust and departed with Qi Qi. Turning to Dugu Jing, Yue'er commanded, "Constable Dugu, take Ouyang Ye back into custody, then send a few men to assist me with the search. Also, summon a physician for Ouyang Ye; ensure he does not die!"

This was the true demeanor of Hui Yue'er, the fearless female bounty hunter of the capital.

Dugu Jing glanced at Ouyang Ye, chuckled, and said to Yue'er, "Understood, Junior Minister Yang. Rest assured, I guarantee he won't die!" With that, he escorted the captive away, and the case was finally drawing to a close.