Chapter 63: One Missing Heart, One Banquet - Part 1

The next day, just before dawn's early light, the Heir to the Throne set out with a noisy retinue of seventeen horses paired with attired guards to have a day's hunting on the well-wooded hills overlooking the capital.

The sun now rose bright amid the blood-red sky, bidding the stars and their nightly secrets farewell. They had scarcely reached the hunting grounds when came dashing into view a messenger who was mounted on a fiery steed. The horse was flying away as if in a mad chase that his rider seemed to have some difficulty restraining it.

"A man's body was found by the Western Gate. After examination the physician had confirmed that his heart was removed. The man was Jia Sui"—all this was duly reported to the Emperor.

Despite having the countenance of one who didn't particularly care; his mouth went dry, his palms clammy and his brain struggled to devise a plan to keep this news under wraps.