The Old Butler wanted to say more, but the dead man suddenly drew his blade and stabbed him in the abdomen! Squelch! Blood and intestines spilled out through the gash in his belly.
"Y-you, why are you killing me?" The Old Butler was shocked.
He had never imagined that, just when everything was under control and he was about to show off a little and display his grand vision, he would be killed by one of his own trusted men! "Why? To obtain orphans, you allowed the three estates to suffer drought, refused disaster relief, then bought children from the commoners for a single copper coin each."
"Have you all forgotten about that?"
"I was only two and a half back then, but I remember it clearly. One coin, one coin. Take the child away, let the child live. Those were my parents' last words before they starved to death." The assassin gritted his teeth.
The Old Butler had nothing to say.
He truly deserved to die.
"B-but that was Advisor Han's scheme, and the First Prince approved it. I was only carrying out orders!" The Old Butler still tried to argue.
Though he knew he was about to die, he still wanted to cling to some shred of hope.
"Hmph. Advisor Han and the First Prince may have started it, but their original instructions were only to cut one-third of the grain and funds, distribute the remaining two-thirds, and make the disaster a little worse."
"They merely wanted to take the opportunity to buy some children. They never intended to starve the victims to death."
"After all, the First Prince and Advisor Han feared future retribution as well. They lacked nothing—not money, only status."
"But when it reached executors like you, not only did you cut away one hundred