Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 1067: Chapter 593: Who Is the Real Clown?

The clown shrugged and spread his hands in a nonchalant gesture. Even without audience rewards, he still held the piano in his left hand, his other hand drawing an arc to rest on his left waist, and his waist bent forward to bow.

He muttered to himself in a self-deprecating tone. ”Looks like it’s going to be another full day of earnings...”

Just then, a silver coin was tossed onto the cloth bag, and the clown’s pitch suddenly rose, not ingratiating but with a kind of manic feeling.

”Thank you very much~”

”I didn’t expect to find such a skilled musician on the street. At first, I thought people were just spreading rumors.”

At this moment, the tipper walked over from among the dispersing crowd, and from the voice alone, it could be felt he was no ordinary person.

Sure enough, when the clown picked up the silver coin and looked up, there was a well-dressed young man, his demeanor unmistakably noble.

Understanding music, and willing to tip silver coins when ordinary people couldn’t even afford copper coins, it could only be a noble.

More conspicuous were the servant and two guards that walked beside him, but it’s not uncommon in the Imperial Capital where nobles fill the place.

The man smiled as he saw the clown looking at him and walked over, inquiring:

”I’ve never heard this piece before, did you compose it yourself?”

”Of course~”

For some reason, there was always a bizarre feeling in the clown’s speech, matched with his attire as if he was too deeply into his role.

Fortunately, the noble didn’t mind this too much and wanted to invite the clown home to perform after getting a positive answer.

However, facing the invitation, the clown said something peculiar.

”I play for everyone.”

It was undoubtedly a refusal, a surprising move for the noble, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Thinking it was mere humility, he offered a price.

”I will prepare for you...”

Considering the current environment, with chaos outside, he, a music lover, made such a generous offer.

But the clown merely shook his head, and the strange mask inexplicably gave a sense of laughter.

As a noble, the man’s patience had worn thin, and he shifted his request.

”Name a price, I want to collect your sheet music.”

”My songs have no sheet music.”

”How is that possible!” The noble’s expression showed displeasure as if he had been mocked. How could there be songs with no sheet music in this world?

If you don’t want to sell, you can refuse without using such words to insult me.

”Did you remember what I played just now?”

The clown’s words left the noble speechless.

Loyalty to the master meant the servant and guards wanted to act against the clown’s trickery, stepping forward to shout.

”Do you know our young master is a musical genius, how...”

”Stop it!”

The noble youth raised his hand to interrupt the servant’s words, looking at the clown with a strange expression, because he really couldn’t remember.

But how? Since he was young, he was sensitive to music, interested in it, had followed court musicians for learning, how could he not remember a melody?

Yet he couldn’t remember a rhythm, how is that possible!

It wasn’t doubt but astonishment.

He tried to recall but couldn’t, realizing something quickly.

As a nobleman, reading the room was more crucial than for the servants.

Even nobles needed it here, because this was the Imperial Capital, where a single stone thrown could hit two nobles, provoking the wrong kind was not wise.

”We’re discussing music, why do you get the say? Apologize to this master immediately!” The young noble changed his tone, forcing the servant to apologize to the clown.

The servant didn’t understand why the master valued the clown so much but apologized with a smile, indistinguishable now from the clown.

Yet, this was their survival tactic as servants, not questioning, just following the master’s orders is correct.

”Since the master doesn’t want to, we shall take our leave.” The noble led the group away quickly, disregarding the sheet music.

However, the clown seemed unaffected by all of this, only lightly chuckling under the mask once they left.

”Hee hee~”

He busily packed up, putting the piano in the bag, when suddenly three unsavory characters surrounded him.

But the clown appeared unaware and attempted to walk away, not expecting the three to skip any pretense and surround him directly.

The slightly greasy fat man in the middle spoke viciously.

”Hand over the money!”

Don’t assume there’s no riffraff or gangs in the Imperial Capital, they’re part of the ecosystem.

Managing the vast grassroots structure is unrewarding, and with a large population, things get complex. Not everyone has Lance’s resolve for costly overhaul.

Compounded by current unrest, this is further exacerbated, the few in front might be gang members, or just common thugs posing.

Rather new for the clown, having not been bothered in the past two days here, but today promptly targeted after earning.

”Why should I give it to you?” The clown felt no threat and instead dared to tease them.