Qin San Lang knew that there would certainly be a major conflict between Dou Ke and Mrs. Dou Meng and the Meng Family, so he did not persuade Young Master Dou, but only said, "Young Master Dou, you are the junior, and confronting Mrs. Dou Meng and the Meng Family, you’ll be at a disadvantage in terms of seniority, which is unfavorable to you."

Young Master Dou was also troubled by this: "The Meng Family has an Imperial Censor who can use etiquette to manipulate people the most. But this time, I’m determined to have a showdown with them. If I don’t create a stir, I wouldn’t even know when I might die or when an official wife and child will suddenly appear under my name!"

He looked at Qin San Lang and said, "Company Commander Qin, do you know that the wicked woman is audacious? Besides seeking noble ladies for marriages for Old Second and Old San, she’s even seeking a woman for me to marry! Ha, can the women she finds be married?"

Qin San Lang looked at Young Master Dou, his eyes full of resentment and grievance.

Dou Ke hadn’t been doing well; her stepmother’s family was too powerful, her biological maternal family wasn’t prestigious, just ordinary merchants at best. Worse still, Dou Ke had no maternal uncles. Her uncle went out to collect debts, encountered mountain bandits, and was killed.

Dou Ke’s uncle hadn’t even turned twenty when he died and hadn’t married, leaving Dou Ke’s maternal family without a male head to uphold the family. Dou Ke’s grandfather succumbed to illness after Dou Ke turned a year old.

However, even though the elders had died, Qin San Lang still had a way to assist Young Master Dou with the support of elders. He whispered a few words to Young Master Dou.

Young Master Dou was shocked, looking at Company Commander Qin... Young Marquis, what’s happened to you? Are you still that kind-hearted, sincere, and righteous Young Marquis? Where did you learn such tactics?

But I like it, hahaha!

"This is an excellent method, thank you, Company Commander Qin." Young Master Dou saluted Qin San Lang and said, "Tonight, if not for Company Commander Qin’s help, how could we have captured Meng Er alive?"

Then he turned around and kicked Meng Er hard a few times, cursing, "Tell me, isn’t Mrs. Dou Meng and the Meng Family a bunch of fools? They’ve already lost Meng Wu, and they sent you here. Didn’t they think that if you were caught, the entire Meng Family would be finished?"

Meng Er was among the top-ranked assassins in the Meng Family, generally only handling matters for the Family Head. Capturing Meng Er alive confirmed that the Meng Family Head had sent someone to kill him.

Meng Er had his jaw dislocated, teeth pulled, poison in his mouth removed, tendons at his hands and feet severed, and was already a mere shadow of himself, but he glared angrily at Qin San Lang... He never expected that such a countryside had a Company Commander with such skills, if not for this young man, he would not have been caught!

Bam, bam, bam, Young Master Dou kicked Meng Er a few more times, cursing, "What are you looking at? Never seen such a handsome and mighty Military Officer? Let me tell you, this Company Commander Qin is no ordinary country bumpkin; he is destined to be a Great General!"

Had he heard this before being captured, Meng Er would have sneered, thinking Young Master Dou was bragging, but after being defeated, he felt there was some truth to it.

Qin San Lang said, "Young Master Dou, it’s getting late. If you are rushing back to the Capital, you need to set out promptly to prevent the Meng Family from reacting and finding a way to rescue themselves."

Then he looked at Meng Er, and with a sudden swing of his long knife, with a "click," he directly severed one of Meng Er’s arms.

Meng Er fell to the ground, silently screaming in pain, writhing on the floor.

Everyone present was shocked, Young Master Dou was so scared that cold sweat broke out, looking at Qin San Lang, "Company Commander Qin?"

Qin San Lang sheathed his sword and said, "This man is strong, merely severing his tendons might not be enough. Severing an arm ensures that even if someone assists him, it will be difficult for him to escape."

"Brilliant!" Young Master Dou was extremely pleased, sweeping his gaze around and pointing to two particularly fierce assassins, "Dou Meng, come over and chop off their arms as well."

Dou Meng’s mouth twitched momentarily but obediently went over and chopped off an arm from each of the two assassins.

The two men fainted in pain.

"Old Dou, come over and bandage their wounds, don’t let them die." Young Master Dou maintained two doctors at his side, and one was brought here this time to handle the injuries.

"Yes." Doctor Dou approached, carrying his medicine chest, to stop the bleeding and bandage the wounds of Meng Er and the others.

Both Qin San Lang and Dou Meng had excellent martial skills, their cuts were clean, making it easy for Doctor Dou to bandage the wounds with little effort.

Nevertheless, severed arms were grievous wounds, and Doctor Dou took nearly an hour to completely bandage their wounds: "Master, all done, they won’t die."

"Hmm, get ready to depart." The Young Master Dou had already packed everything necessary during this hour and was ready to leave immediately.

The Young Master Dou was somewhat reluctant, yet ultimately clasped his hands toward Qin San Lang, "Company Commander Qin, take care!"

After speaking, he boarded the carriage and departed with his people, the Ouyang Family’s Shadow Guards, as well as Meng Er, Meng Wu, and these assassins.

However, what he didn’t know was that Qin San Lang had dispatched You Xi and his men to the Capital, quietly following Young Master Dou and his group, both to protect them and to gather information about the Capital.

Once You Xi and the others had left, Qin San Lang rode back to the village.

He had promised Xiao Yu he would return personally to assure her of his safety.

The horse galloped swiftly, and it took him barely an hour to return home. After bathing, washing his hair, and scrubbing off the scent of blood, he went to see her, refreshed and clean.

Gu Jinli had not slept yet, waiting for him. Upon hearing a familiar birdcall, she immediately opened the window and, seeing him, smiled and waved him inside, "Did you catch the people from the Meng Family?"

Qin San Lang nodded, "Yes, they have been caught, Dou Ke is already escorting them to the Capital, now there will be quite a commotion."

He flipped into the room, closed the window, and then commented on the grapefruit lamp she placed on the table, "Beautiful."

Gu Jinli glanced at him, saying, "Praising something you made yourself as beautiful, you really have thick skin."

Qin San Lang smiled silently; in front of her, did he need any face?

He held her hand, walked into the inner room, took off his shoes, climbed onto the bed, and said to her, "I’m tired, I’ll rest here, leave before dawn."

Afraid she might refuse, he added, "Tomorrow afternoon, I need to go to the Prefecture garrison; General Guo had Zhong Yu send word long ago for me to go."

Gu Jinli glared at him, "Why pretend to be pitiful? It’s not your first time resting here... any suffering is yours, not mine."

With that, both of their faces turned red.

Qin San Lang was silent for a moment, then held her hand, saying, "It’s fine, I can endure this bit of hardship."

After all, she would be his sooner or later, and although he was eager, he wouldn’t do anything to scare her off.

Gu Jinli knew he was a person who firmly adhered to boundaries, so hearing this, she wasn’t concerned, climbed into bed, and went to sleep under the covers.

After some time had passed, he gently embraced her through the blanket, and they fell asleep together.

...

In the Capital, a government official from Jingzhao Mansion rushed into the residence pale-faced, found Lord Junior Prefect, and said, "Lord Junior Prefect, things are bad; the eldest son of the Imperial Merchant Dou Family is wearing mourning clothes, holding the tablets of his maternal grandfather and biological mother, carrying a coffin and has come to our Jingzhao Mansion to plead! Judging by his posture, he seems ready to create a major uproar!"