Ma Shangtao lashed out with both hands until Ma Biao's mouth was so swollen he couldn't open it, before finally letting go.
Looking up, Qin Yu didn't even blink; his eyes remained icy.
Ma Shangtao immediately released his son, and trembling, knelt down in front of Qin Yu with a thud.
Ma Biao was dumbfounded.
Why... is he kneeling?
He didn't know that Ma Shangtao not only wanted to kneel, but also wanted to slap himself a few times, just to appease Qin Yu.
After kneeling on the ground, Ma Shangtao stammered, "Your Majesty..."
As soon as he opened his mouth, Zhou Hu stepped forward and slapped him hard across the cheek.
Ma Shangtao was stunned. He didn't understand Zhou Hu's actions, and he couldn't understand why Zhou Hu would suddenly hit him.
Zhou Hu then coldly cursed.
"Ma Shangtao, you are not allowed to address Young Master Qin by his given name, or you will be severely punished!"
Zhou Hu's sudden action was instigated by Qin Yu.
They were afraid that Ma Biao, that big mouth, would talk nonsense outside after learning his identity.
If his identity is accidentally exposed and spread, who knows how much Bai Ruyan will hate him when she finds out.
Ma Shangtao covered his face. He wasn't someone who couldn't understand human speech, and he nodded hurriedly.
"Yes, yes, Young Master Qin, my son offended you. It is my fault for not raising him properly. I beg Young Master Qin for forgiveness."
Qin Yu asked coldly, "Do you think you can just let this go with a simple 'I failed to raise my child properly'?"
Ma Shangtao felt a pang of bitterness and said with difficulty, "Young Master Qin, please spare my son this time for the sake of Prime Minister Sima."
"From now on, I, Ma, promise that I will never let my son appear in front of you again!"
Ma Shangtao pleaded with a mournful face, looking like he was about to burst into tears.
"father……"
Ma Biao was completely dumbfounded.
How could his father, a high-ranking official in charge of personnel, be so afraid of such a young upstart?
Who exactly is this poor scholar?
"Shut up! How dare you say another word, you unfilial son! Quickly kowtow and admit your mistake with me!"
Ma Shangtao gritted his teeth and gave a low reprimand.
He immediately knelt down, his head pressed to the ground, and pleaded with Qin Yu in a trembling voice.
"Young Master Qin, my son has also apologized to you, you see..."
Qin Yu narrowed his eyes, frowned and pondered for a moment before nodding.
"Very well, then today I will spare you this time for the sake of Prime Minister Sima."
Upon hearing this, Ma Shangtao was overjoyed.
As expected, this foolish emperor was afraid of Chancellor Sima.
"Thank you, Young Master Qin. I will take my son and leave now."
He hurriedly stood up, grabbed Ma Biao, and was about to leave, fearing that if he was even a second late, Qin Yu, this tyrannical and capricious tyrant, would change his mind.
"Wait!"
Qin Yu called out to him, her tone calm and devoid of any emotion.
Ma Shangtao was startled and asked tremblingly, "Young Master Qin, is there anything else you need me to do?"
Qin Yu put on a fierce look and snorted coldly.
“You may be spared the death penalty, but you can’t escape punishment. Your son is stealing a woman from his father. This matter cannot be left like this.”
"They must be punished!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Shangtao's lips twitched, and he inwardly groaned.
This tyrannical emperor, obsessed with women, went out to visit brothels, only to have his son run into this unfortunate situation!
"So, what does Young Master Qin wish to do?"
Ma Shangtao asked tentatively, his voice trembling with fear.
Qin Yu scoffed disdainfully, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes as he coldly swept his gaze toward Ma Biao.
Finally, that cold gaze settled on his legs.
"Ma Biao just said he would break my legs, so now I, this young master, will take both his legs too!"
No sooner had he said that than Zhou Xiong drew his knife, glaring menacingly at the father and son.
Upon hearing this, Ma Shangtao panicked. Did he have to make a drastic decision to save his son's life?
Ma Shangtao closed his eyes, and his body began to tremble, clearly caught in a violent struggle.
"Damn it! Are you crazy?! You dare to take my legs!"
"Father! What's wrong with you? What's this kid's background? Could he also be a protégé of Prime Minister Sima...?"
"Shut up!"
Ma Shangtao roared, his eyes bloodshot.
He knew all too well the cruelty of this tyrant. Just a few days ago, he had heard from the Ministry of Justice that the group in the imperial prison, acting on the tyrant's orders, were torturing Li Dingbang in all sorts of ways, even resorting to life-slicing! It was utterly appalling!
First, Jia Dishi's ancestral graves were desecrated, and then Li Dingbang was brutally tortured. These veteran officials, who had offended this tyrannical emperor, all ended up with their families destroyed and their lives cut short.
He's just a Vice Minister of War... If the tyrannical emperor doesn't vent his anger, he'll likely face utter destruction!
Thinking of this, Ma Shangtao suddenly kicked his son to the ground, his face ashen, and he gritted his teeth as he looked at Qin Yu with difficulty.
"Young Master Qin... could you please have someone fetch me a stick?"
Upon hearing this, Ma Biao felt a sudden surge of fear and looked at his father in disbelief!
Zhou Hu handed him a solid stick. Ma Shangtao took a deep breath, his lips turning blue and his body trembling.
“My son, don’t blame me. Blame yourself for offending someone you shouldn’t have.”
"Young Master Qin, I will break both of my son's legs right now to apologize to you!"
Ma Shangtao's eyes were bloodshot as he swung a wooden stick at Ma Biao and swung it down hard.
"Ah, Father, no!"
Ma Biao let out a miserable scream, curled up into a ball, and stared wide-eyed in fear.
With a thud, the wooden stick struck his left leg!
"ah!"
Ma Biao suddenly let out a heart-wrenching roar, and blood seeped from his trouser leg.
He collapsed to the ground in agony, rolling around and clutching his left leg as he cried out.
But Qin Yu put on a violent look and pointed at Ma Biao, saying fiercely!
"And the right leg too, both legs must be used! This is the price for trying to steal my woman!"
Ma Shangtao felt a chill in his heart. He gritted his teeth and pulled Ma Biao, who was rolling around on the ground, back to his feet.
"Father, no, Father, it hurts so much! Stop hitting me!" Ma Biao cried out, tears streaming down his face.
Bang!
Ma Shangtao struck Ma Biao's right leg hard with the stick again.
"Ahhhh—"
Ma Biao wailed in agony, his face turning deathly pale, his body convulsing, and he fainted.
Ma Shangtao's hands were trembling, and his forehead was covered with large beads of sweat.
Thud...
The wooden stick fell to the ground.
Ma Shangtao stared at Qin Yu with red eyes and asked tremblingly.
“Young Master Qin… I have already broken my son’s legs as you wished. Please, have mercy on this matter…”
Qin Yu stared at Ma Biao's two bloody, twisted, severed thighs before letting out a faint, cold laugh.
"You're smart to know what's good for you! Get lost!"
Qin Yu waved his hand, and Ma Shangtao immediately felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and hurriedly shouted outside!
"Guards, quickly carry the young master away!"
Two soldiers rushed in and, with great effort, finally managed to lift Ma Biao, who had fainted from the pain.
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