Zhang Yanling and Helena came out of the closet. Helena stepped forward and stroked Catherine's back, comforting her in a low voice. Catherine hugged Helena and cried non-stop.
Zhang Yanling stood at the window, looking at the sunny courtyard with lush flowers and trees in the manor downstairs, feeling quite emotional in her heart.
Although people and things in this world are in different countries, human nature and principles are actually the same. If what happened to Catherine happened in the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Yanling would not be surprised at all.
Throughout the ages, how many people have given away their wives and daughters for their own prosperity or their own interests, even at the expense of their happiness. There are traffickers and pawns, and emperors and generals are also inevitable. These are all transactions, and wives and daughters are bargaining chips.
He entertains people with his wife and daughter, allows others to invade his house, and humiliates his family. There is no dignity and humanity at all, and it is extremely shameful.
The same seems to be true in the Folangji Kingdom. The past and present are similar, and things are the same. Wherever there is power and interest, such dirty things will happen.
That Governor of Goya, it's hard to tell whether he was forced or took the initiative. But whether he was forced or took the initiative, he was a spineless and irresponsible father. He was a father in vain and had no moral integrity. This kind of person lives in the world.
They are just consumables. I have no face and skin, and my wife and daughter at home suffer. They are in great pain for the rest of their lives.
Zhang Yanling couldn't understand some things. How could people be so humble? Isn't personal struggle for the people around him to live a better and happier life? Is it possible to sacrifice the happiness of family and relatives in exchange for power, status and interests?
?Don’t you feel guilt and pain in your heart? How can you feel at ease with what you get like that?
It can only be said that people are different. There are hundreds of different kinds of people in this world. There are all kinds of people in this world. There are people who do weird and weird things. There are people who do any bottomless and unethical things.
In terms of Zhang Yanling's three views, it is certainly incomprehensible. But to some people, it seems to be a matter of course.
"Catherine, I must save you from here. I can't let you fall into the hands of the devil Alfonso. Catherine, you can't hesitate anymore. Otherwise, you will be miserable and sad for the rest of your life. You can't hesitate anymore, you must make a decision.
." Helena said solemnly.
Catherine said with tears in her eyes: "But if I run away, he will definitely make things difficult for my father. What should I do?"
Zhang Yanling felt bored after hearing this. Before Helena could speak, she said in a deep voice: "Miss Catherine, at this time, you are still thinking about your father. I can only say that you deserve to be like this."
Helena frowned and said, "Why do you say that about Catherine?"
Zhang Yanling said: "For a person who pushed his daughter into a pit of fire for his own status and interests, what is there for you to defend him? In his eyes, you are not his daughter, but his bargaining chip and bet. You think about him
, has he ever thought about you at all? Your father is not worthy of being your father. Such a father will only send you to the hands of the devil and ruin your life. If you still don’t understand this, then you
You deserve it. Did I say something wrong?"
"Your Majesty the Duke!" Helena cried out sweetly.
Zhang Yanling waved her hands and said: "That's all, I'm an outsider. I'm just expressing my views from my perspective. This is none of my business. Miss Catherine can do whatever she likes. I can't control it either."
Helena glared at Zhang Yanling angrily, she knew what Zhang Yanling said was right, she just didn't want Zhang Yanling to say it so straightforwardly. Catherine was already very pitiful, how could she still say that to her.
Catherine's face turned pale and she sat there in shock. Helena comforted her in a low voice: "Katherine, don't be angry. Duke Zhang doesn't listen to what he says, but he has no malice. He is just being unfair to you. Don't blame him."
Catherine suddenly raised her head and said: "He is right, he woke me up. My father does not regard me as his daughter, but just a bargaining chip for him to gain power and status. Duke Zhang is right. The world
How can there be such a father? How can there be such a cruel and heartless father in the world. Am I stupid for still defending him and thinking about him?"
Zhang Yanling nodded slightly. Catherine should be a smart woman, but she was trapped in a kind of confusion and didn't know how to save herself. The reason why he said that was just to give her a heads-up and wake her up. Now it seems that she has understood.
"I was still hoping that he would change his mind and terminate the engagement. But now it seems that it was wishful thinking. Alfonso said that he was interested in my father's wealth and connections. Didn't my father also be interested in the relationship between him and Prince William?
The relationship. They are using each other, and I am the one who is sacrificed. I still think about him, am I really the stupidest person in the world?" Catherine said in a deep voice.
"Catherine, it's good that you understand. In fact, I have wanted to say it for a long time. But I'm afraid you won't be able to bear it. The truth is cruel. Your father's character... is really not good. Not to mention the betrayal of my father's trust over the years.
, the same goes for my daughter. I never thought he would be such a person before, I have always respected him." Helena whispered.
Catherine said softly: "People change. Since my mother left him, he has been depressed and his temperament has changed drastically. In front of you, he looks kind, but in private he is drunk, violent, and increasingly cruel. Part 1
Months ago, I saw him kill a local member of his family while drunk.
Servant, I was scared to death. After drinking, he cursed my mother, saying that she was greedy for wealth and abandoned him. He said that one day he would want my mother and his current husband, the Marquis of Campbell, to kneel before him and cry.
Beg for mercy. Sometimes I feel that he is very pitiful, and sometimes I feel that he is terrible."
Helena was shocked and said: "Why have you never told me these things? Poor Catherine, what kind of hell are you living in? Does your father still remember your mother's grudges?"
Catherine said: "Yes, that may be a shame that he will never forget for the rest of his life. For a man, his wife ran away with a marquis. This is the biggest blow to him. So, sometimes I feel pity for him. My mother
I was in love with vanity, so I left him and the young me and ran away with Duke Campbell, which was a huge blow to him. This kind of thing is not a good thing, so why should I say it? "
Zhang Yanling listened and understood. It turned out that the wife of Governor Goya ran away with someone. The other party should be a nobleman. Governor Goya was powerless and had a grudge in his heart. This could also explain why this man easily betrayed his friends and ignored his daughter.
Happiness, treating her as a bargaining chip. His psychology should be twisted and humiliated. Such a person is either decadent or will work hard to wash away his shame.
Governor Goya obviously wants to work hard and become a master. In the future, he will let that woman confess and regret in front of him and take revenge on the Marquis. This idea is certainly correct, but if he does it at all costs and loses his bottom line, then
This is his greatest sorrow.
"Catherine, my poor Catherine, I feel sorry for you. We two are so pitiful. What mistake did we make? God, why do you punish us like this?" Helena sighed.
Zhang Yanling said solemnly: "God can't help you. People have to save themselves, and then others can save them. If you don't save yourself, you can only accept a tragic fate."
Catherine frowned and said: "The Duke is right, I must save myself, I can't let them control me. I can't become the devil's plaything, and I can't become a victim of my father's revenge. But, what should I do? Even if I run away
If I get out, where can I go? How can I escape?"
Helena turned to look at Zhang Yanling and said: "Can you help Catherine? Save her. As for the future, we will find a way. The first step is to escape from Alfonso's clutches. You have also seen that today Alfonso
How presumptuous Suo is."
Zhang Yanling has a big head. Saving Almeida is already a very difficult thing. Now there is another difficult thing. But he really can't see this kind of thing, even if it is someone who has nothing to do with him, encountering this kind of thing.
When this kind of injustice happens, chivalrous feelings naturally arise in my heart. It would be unjustifiable if I don't help Miss Catherine. What's more, she is Helena's good friend.
"Miss Catherine, there is no place in the world that cannot be sheltered. If you want to escape, I will help you. Among other things, you are Helena's good friend. For her sake, I cannot ignore you.
If you are willing, just follow my arrangements. I will definitely be able to rescue you. And of course, Mr. Almeida." Zhang Yanling said.
Catherine stood up and saluted Zhang Yanling and said: "If your lord, the Duke, could save me, I would be very grateful. Your words today have awakened me. I can't go on like this, I want to escape."
Zhang Yanling said: "Okay, in that case, let's discuss the plan. Not just you, but also Mr. Almeida. Let's make a plan while there is still some time."
…
In the late afternoon, Governor Goya and others returned to the Government House. Catherine sat at the long table in the hall, waiting for her father to return.
Goya walked into the room, his fat body slumped down on the chair, and his face looked exhausted.
"Father, you are back. Are you tired?" Catherine stepped forward and said.
Goya glanced at his daughter, waved his hand and said: "I'm exhausted. It's really frustrating. I don't know what the Holy See thinks, and it insists on preaching. How can these locals be worthy of being slaves of God? Let them be like us.
?What a joke. They can only be our servants. If it weren’t for the weight of the Holy See’s words, I wouldn’t have participated. It’s really tiring.”
Catherine said: "Have a rest and have something to drink? I'll pour it for you."
Woya said: "Let's have a glass of gin wine."
Catherine agreed, poured the wine and handed it to Goya. Goya drank it in one gulp and sighed with satisfaction, and then he remembered to ask about Catherine's health.
"Are you feeling better? Are you still dizzy?"
"Thank you, father. I came back and rested for a while. I'm much better now. It may be because there are so many people and the weather is hot." Catherine said.
"That's good. Alfonso has been here? You won't quarrel with him again, right? I heard the gatekeeper of the manor said that he came and left angrily." Woya said.
Catherine frowned and said: "I'm not feeling well, and if he comes to harass me, I won't give him a good look. This is my home, do I still have to accommodate him?"
Goya frowned and said, "Catherine, what are you talking about? He is your future husband, how could you treat him like this? Do you know what it means to marry him? It means that you will be a marquis or even a duchess in the future.
He is a close confidant of Prince William. Prince William is powerful and will definitely seize the throne to become the king in the future.
At that time, think about how Alfonso will be respected? Don’t be ignorant. I know you are unhappy and you don’t like him. But is it that important whether you like him or not? It’s important.
From now on, you will be on top, and no one will dare to look down on you. No one will dare to humiliate you. Do you understand?"
Catherine frowned and remained silent, her face flushed. She wanted to say: I don't care, you are just doing it for yourself. But she couldn't say that, she still had something to ask of her father.
"Father, I can marry Alfonso. But please allow me to convince myself and adjust myself. To marry someone I don't like, I need to convince myself to accept it." Catherine said softly.
Governor Goya glanced at Catherine, nodded and said: "I know you are my daughter, will I harm you? I am doing this for your sake. Your father and I, from a little person to today, have suffered a lot and suffered
How much humiliation you have suffered. And you can reach the sky in one step through marriage, which is the benefit of you women. Just like your mother...that hateful bitch. If you want to be a marquise, you only need to seduce a marquis."
Governor Goya suddenly cursed, reached out and took the wine bottle from Catherine's hand, poured himself a full glass of wine, and drank it down.
Catherine frowned and said: "Father, I understand what you are saying. I will listen to your arrangements. But I have a request. I want to see Uncle Almeida."
Wu Ya frowned and said, "What do you see him doing?"
Catherine said: "Helena and I have been friends since childhood, and Uncle Almeida has always been very kind to me. I heard that Helena died and now Uncle Almeida is imprisoned again. I want to visit him. Instead of Helena
Go take a look at him. God is merciful. Even if Uncle Almeida is your enemy, this little human comfort shouldn't be too much."
Goya frowned and said nothing, and sighed for a while: "Your request is not too much, but it is inappropriate. I'm just afraid that if he sees you, you will be embarrassed. I went to see him recently, and he scolded me like a dog.
Hate me to the core. How can I be nice to you? Besides, Alfonso doesn’t allow anyone to see Almeida. If he finds out, he will definitely be angry.”
Catherine said in a deep voice: "Father, I promised to marry Alfonso to fulfill your wish. But you are not even willing to agree to this small request? You and Uncle Almeida have been together for more than ten years.
Friend, you betrayed him. Isn't it normal for him to treat you like this? You are so afraid of Alfonso's anger, which makes me feel
You are despicable. So what if Alfonso finds out? I can agree to marry him, or I can fight to the death and refuse. At worst, I will just give myself a knife. Don’t think I don’t know. You want to use me to please Alfonso.
Suo. If you are not even willing to agree to this small request, I will tell you that you will get nothing."
Goya's eyes widened with anger, and he stood up and stared at Catherine, as if he had met her for the first time. Catherine was a docile girl, and this was the first time that these words came out of her mouth. This made Goya feel scared.
"You don't have to look at me like that. As long as you allow me to visit Uncle Almeida, I will fulfill my wish. After that, I will not go against your will and marry Alfonso according to your arrangement. Otherwise, I will
I would rather die than marry him." Helena looked at his father quietly and said calmly.
Goya raised the wine glass in his hand and smashed it to the ground. The silver cup made a crisp sound on the marble floor, which was extremely harsh.