Chapter 159

The Palisade Theatre was an ancient, Romanesque-styled building that stood in Vienna for nearly 100 years. Throughout the continuously changing musicians and actors, many loyal viewers considered it their favorite theater for life and visited every week to listen to the opera.

Those people were the pillars that supported the PalisadeTheater for a hundred years. For them, even on Christmas Eve, the members of the theater orchestra insisted on playing a high-level concert to display their level of excellence.

Therefore, the intense practice was absolutely necessary.

In the bright rehearsal hall, the melodious music rang clear. The trombone rumbled, the string instruments sang like flowing water, and it all came together soothingly, bringing to life the beautiful, moving sound that was unique to Strauss.

《Emperor Waltz》 was divided into a prologue, four small waltzes, and six parts at the end. Almost every part had two themes. The former is bright and cheery, and the latter is passionate and intense in sharp contrast with each other.

It was a warm ensemble. The music quieted, and the conductor raised his baton and turned his head to the left of the podium.

Qi Mu looked up and smiled at Wallace, a bright sound flowing from the violin under the youth’s fingers. It was clear, bright, and soft.

The Palisade Theatre’s concertmaster successfully completed the music piece at the conductor’s will. The whole orchestra played neatly under their leadership.

Even for rehearsals, no one in the orchestra dared to make a mistake. Even the woodwinds, the ones most prone to mistakes, were as stable as if they had trained a hundred times.

When in fact…

This was only their first rehearsal!

Nearing the end of the song, the musicians directed the first seat of each group. Stepping off the conductor’s platform, Wallace turned to Qi Mu. “Little Seven, when Lance introduced you to me, you were great! Your violin was gentle and delicate. I really couldn’t believe such a young person could have such powerful force!”

Without waiting for Qi Mu to respond, the other members of the first violin group laughed, “Mr. Wallace, our Little Seven has been for over four months. How can you only discover he’s simply unscientific now!””

“That’s right. When I saw Little Seven, I thought… When I was 22, I also organized a small band in my hometown. Several people were playing, right?”

“Arnie, you’re pretty good, ok! When you were 22, you all graduated. I was still being scolded by my tutor all day long in college!”

……

Listening to them rant, Qi Mu laughed. Wallace frowned. “When he introduced Little Seven to me, Lance said he was an emotional child, that he felt the emotions behind the music. Even then, I didn’t think Little Seven could deliver such an excellent 《Ave Maria》 in a week.”

Praised to that extent, since Qi Mi didn’t have a face thick enough to serve as national defense, he couldn’t help feeling a little embarrassed. He coughed, “Mr. Wallace, everyone in the orchestra is outstanding. It was through this ensemble with everyone that I could grasp this 《Ave Maria》.”

“Little Seven! You are so humble! I believe, by the concert next week, you and the orchestra can play the most memorable 《Ave Maria》!”

Faced with Wallace’s praise and the orchestra’s laughter, Qi Mu could only accept the kindness of his companions.

Just when he thought this outburst would end, a voice sounded out in the crowd, “That’s right, Little Seven, this invitation, should we make a Q version and print your image on it as mascot?!”

Qi Mu: “… I don’t think it’s…” very suitable.

“Hahaha, that’s a great idea! The orchestra always uses such rigid invitations, not very energetic.”

“That’s right! Mr. Wallace, can we redesign the annual invitation letter?”

……

The entire group roared in agreement. Wallace looked at Qi Mu with a “Rest assured, I know what to do” glance. While Qi Mu was feeling relieved, Wallace calmly said, “Our invitations are indeed too rigid, they should be improved. But I think… the orchestra mascot is a bit too much, right?”

Qi Mu: “……” Who’s the mascot!

Wallace thought for a while. “If we’re sending invitations to young children, should a mascot doll be included? Make a little rabbit called ‘Seven.’ It’s consistent with the image of Little Seven, and it’ll promote the cute image of our orchestra.” Wallace turned, “Little Seven, what do you think?”

Qi Mu’s mouth twitched a little. “Mr. Wallace, I think this is…”

“It’s decided!”

“That’s it!”

“Great suggestion. I’m sure the young audience will like this Little Seven rabbit!”

Qi Mu: “……”

Who’s a rabbit!!!!

Inside the PalisadeTheatre’s large rehearsal hall, everyone was laughing. Only the handsome young man had tears in his heart. The next time he had to write his resume, his job title would be——

《My Career as The PalisadeTheatre’s Mascot》.

While everyone in the theatre was delighted, half the city away, in the Vienna Supreme Court’s courtroom No. 1, the atmosphere was solemn. The trial proceeded with little suspense.

Very few cases were allowed into the first courtroom of the Vienna Supreme Court, which could accommodate a large audience. But today, there were countless public media specialists in attendance, along with numerous cameras, waiting for the final outcome of the two prisoners.

Many of the reporters gathered at the front of the gallery, for the front row seats were already full of people with important identities. For example, the chief conductor and music director of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Albert Dorenza, and the chief conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Evra.

These people were all big names in the classical music world. Every one of their concerts would be sold out, attracting countless fans. Today, they were all gathered together for the finale of this case.

Zayev and Luo Yu Sen both hung their heads in disgrace as they were escorted up, neither daring to look up at the people in the gallery. Zayev looked directly at the judge, not letting the reporters take pictures of their embarrassment.

When the judge knocked the gavel, the room immediately fell silent.

The clerk stood up and read the cold, ruthless testimony and other details of the case with an expressionless face. When he read, “The suspect Luo Yu Sen took the victim’s asthma medication,” the clerk glanced coldly at the dark-haired man standing in the center of the court, then continued to recite.

The courtroom was silent. After the clerk finished reading aloud, and the procedures were completed, Luo Yu sen and Zayev had nothing to refute.

The judge, who had always been fair and just, looked at the two guilty criminals below the stage. The disgust and contempt in his eyes were impossible to hide.

The judge had tried many violent murders, but for him, these criminals were no better than those disgusting murderers!

This was Vienna, one of the most beloved places in the classical music industry. Beautiful music could be heard all the time at the ends of every street in the city. There were statues of great musicians in every square!

But, in such a place, such terrible and disgusting sins were bred!

A talented young violinist lost his precious life, because of these two prisoners’ jealousy and selfishness!

How much beautiful music had the world lost! What kind of talent had the world lost!

How could two people who love music, possibly commit a crime so atrocious!

Many people didn’t know the judge of this trial was privately a fan of Wei Ai and had also loved the music of its chief Zayev. But, if the judge had liked his music before, he hated the man standing in the middle of the courtroom that much more!

This was blasphemy!

This was ruthless blasphemy against music!

You were unworthy of the beauty of music the day you picked up the violin!

The gavel landed heavily. After the relevant regulations were read, the judge, who was upset, sneered. For the first time in his life, he destroyed his image of selflessness and impartialness in law enforcement and selfishly said, “I really can’t understand. How could there be such a villain as filthy as you in the great world of classical music!”

The gallery immediately erupted in noise as countless reporters wrote and filmed.

This was the headline!

The always impartial judge, angry in court!

The judge continued, “You are the shame of Vienna; you are the shame of classical music! I cannot believe you picked up a violin and played such beautiful music this year. I’m afraid that behind that false beauty lies a rotten swamp! Austria is a benevolent country without the death penalty, which I have never regretted until this moment. You cannot erase the sins with which you have desecrated the classical music of the entire world!”

“But in this moment, I can only regretfully announce Lyon Zayev, imprisonment for 5 years and 31 days; Luo Yu Sen, imprisonment for——”

“71 years and 20 days!”

Luo Yu Sen immediately shouted in horror, “I am unsatisfied! I am unsatisfied! Why should I…”

“Silence!!!” The judge’s cold eyes made Luo Yu sen flinch back suddenly. He looked at the gaunt man blankly, “If there are objections, please file an appeal!”

……

In a panic, Luo Yu Sen shouted in disbelief, and the whole trial came to an end.

Dorenza, sitting in the front row, felt the relief of a burden on his shoulders. He spoke with his old friend, Evra, while the reporters swarmed out the door after the angry judge.

《Voice of Vienna》 reporter Jake walked out the door a little slower. He spotted a man wearing sunglasses in his peripheral vision and felt a trace of surprise. There was an inexplicable sense of familiarity, but he quickly turned to chase the judge again.

In the last row of the gallery, no one spotted the handsome, elegant man with slightly lowered eyes staring at the already empty court. His thin lips pursed, and he whispered, “71 years and 20 days…”

Well, many things could happen.