Suppose I write:

< Duv > jatlhpu' 'e' DaSov

you know that he said "advance"

Since there's no rule prohibiting placing a quotation before the {'e'} of a sao (as long as the verb after the {'e'} isn't a verb of speech), seemingly/apparently this sentence would be correct.

So, similarly, wouldn't the following be correct too?

< HeD > jatlhpu'; < HIv > jatlhpu' 'e' qa'

instead of saying "attack" he said "retreat"

Of course, one could argue that the {'e'} of the {'e' qa'} isn't the "classic" {'e'} of a sao, but if that's the case, then even better, right?