Rebirth as the Richest Woman in the World
Chapter 868 - 870, Past Prospects (Second Update)

Chapter 868: 870, Past Prospects (Second Update)

Apart from the child, the old Madam Mo was familiar with the other two people, but, as soon as she saw them, she turned around angrily.

The woman caught sight of the old Madam Mo and hurriedly tiptoed to say, "Sister, sister, I’m Xiangzhi!" She seemed not to notice the disgust in the old Madam Mo’s eyes, her face full of ingratiating smiles.

The young woman beside her also immediately said, "Aunt, I’m Qiaoqiao."

Since they had both addressed her that way, the old Madam Mo couldn’t pretend not to see them and reluctantly turned around, approached the door, and through the iron bars said, "How did you get here?"

"Sister, look at this, it’s not a good place to talk. Let us in first," said the woman with a simpering smile.

"Greetings to grandma, I’m little Jinzi," the child next to the two women also sweetly spoke up.

The old Madam Mo looked at the child with some suspicion, her brows slightly furrowed.

Seeing the old Madam Mo like this, the woman immediately said, "Sister, this is Qiaoqiao’s son, little Jinzi."

The old Madam Mo pursed her lips and said nothing, only smiling at little Jinzi. Regardless, the affairs of the adults should not involve the child.

"Sister, please let us in. The imperial palace guards are really strict, we’ve been made to stand here for more than half an hour without even being offered a cup of water," she said, a hint of complaint in her voice.

The old Madam Mo’s gaze was cold, and she spoke tensely, "You should leave, I do not recognize you." With that, she looked away and then turned around.

"Sister, I’m your sister-in-law! How can you deny me now? Sister!" Li Xiangzhi clung tightly to the iron bars.

This person was indeed the old Madam Mo’s sister-in-law, Li Xiangzhi.

The young woman standing next to Li Xiangzhi was her daughter, Tong Qiaoqiao.

Tong Yuan was the old Madam Mo’s only brother, and under normal circumstances, she should be happy to welcome a visit from her sister-in-law, Li Xiangzhi.

Indeed, apart from Tong Zhi, Li Xiangzhi and her daughter were the only relatives the old Madam Mo had in the Superpower World.

However, more than twenty years ago, after the incident involving Mo Zhixuan and the Superpower World, Li Xiangzhi, seeking to avoid disaster for themselves, cut off contact with the Mo family and the old Madam Mo and publicly declared that from then on, the Tong family and the Mo family would have nothing to do with each other.

Only Tong Zhi followed the old Madam Mo to the secular world.

At that time, Mo Zhixuan had been seriously injured, and the old Madam Mo had risked seeking medicine, but Li Xiangzhi showed no past affection. She not only refused to help but also reported Mo Zhixuan’s whereabouts to the Elder, exacerbating Mo Zhixuan’s injuries.

In the midst of betrayal and abandonment, Mo Zhixuan left the Superpower World with the old Madam Mo.

Li Xiangzhi’s actions at that time were utterly disheartening—she did not even regard Mo Zhixuan as her nephew.

If it were not for Chu Jin, Mo Zhixuan would not be in the Superpower World now.

Having done such things twenty years ago, the old Madam Mo was now unwilling to pay any attention to Li Xiangzhi.

"Didn’t we already have no relation to each other 28 years ago? Sister-in-law? What kind of sister-in-law are you?" The old Madam Mo looked at Li Xiangzhi, a glint of revulsion in her eyes.

Upon hearing these words, Li Xiangzhi’s face suddenly changed, and like a shrew, she knelt on the ground, crying out, "Sister, how can you be like this! Now that Zhixuan is prominent, you don’t recognize us poor relatives? Tong Yuan left us early, the only relative won’t care for us, how are we, a mother and her orphaned child, supposed to survive... Poor Tong Yuan was still thinking of you before he died..."

At these words, the old Madam Mo’s brows furrowed with surprise, "You said... Tong Yuan... is dead?" At that moment, the old Madam Mo was finding it hard to breathe.

Tong Yuan was after all the old Madam Mo’s only brother, and now hearing of his death, she was somewhat unable to accept it. Tong Yuan was a henpecked and honest man; the events of those years could not really be blamed on Tong Yuan—they were caused by Li Xiangzhi. At that time, Li Xiangzhi’s family was powerful, and Tong Yuan had no say in the Tong family.

The day before leaving the Superpower World, Tong Yuan had secretly met with the old Madam Mo, and the siblings had wept in each other’s arms.

That scene before departure forever lingered before the old Madam Mo.

It is said that when marrying, one should choose a virtuous wife, for looks are not that important. Tong Yuan’s life was weighed down by Li Xiangzhi.

Hearing what the Elder Lady Mo said, Li Xiangzhi cried even more bitterly, "Yes, that dead Tong Yuan, he left me and our daughter too early, sister, it was all my fault back then, I shouldn’t have done that. Over these twenty-some years, I have lived in guilt and repentance every single day, sister, I was wrong! I really know I was wrong, please show magnanimity, forgive me... Tong Yuan has already gone, I can’t lose you as my sister too..."

Elder Lady Mo felt a bit unsteady on her feet; she touched her temples only to feel dizzy and her eyes reddened in an instant.

Fortunately, a servant was quick and steady, supporting Elder Lady Mo in time.

Seeing Elder Lady Mo like this, a sharp light flickered through Li Xiangzhi’s reddened eyes.

She knew that Elder Lady Mo had always been a person of deep feelings; Elder Lady Mo would definitely not turn a blind eye to her own plight.

The Mo Zhixuan of today was no longer the Mo Zhixuan of the past, and if she could stay in the imperial palace, then she could once again appear before everyone in full splendor in the future.

She was now the aunt of the Commander of the Three Worlds. If this were the ancient times, she would be among the royal relatives.

Even if Elder Lady Mo wouldn’t forgive her, she wouldn’t hold the grudge against Tong Yuan.

"You may leave," Elder Lady Mo calmed her mind, cast her eyes downward toward Li Xiangzhi, who was kneeling on the ground, and spoke with a slightly cold tone, "Twenty years ago, your Li family and our Mo family had already severed all ties."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangzhi immediately panicked, clutching the iron gate tightly and crying out, "Sister, you can’t say that. Even if my surname is Li, Qiaoqiao still carries the Tong surname, ah. She is the child of your Tong family, the sole descendant of the family, and the only child Tong Yuan left in this world. Even if I’ve done wrong before, sister, these are grievances between adults, how can you take this out on a child? Sister, now that Tong Yuan is gone, following me, Qiaoqiao and little Golden Child will only suffer. I implore you to show mercy and take in Qiaoqiao and little Golden Child, don’t let this mother and son wander homeless..."

Li Xiangzhi cried very sadly, her words fully expressing the helplessness and greatness of a mother.

"Mom, don’t cry, rest assured, I will never leave you no matter what," Tong Qiaoqiao knelt beside Li Xiangzhi, also with a face covered in tears. It was evident that Tong Qiaoqiao was a child with great filial piety.

Little Golden Child, too, burst into loud sobs, obviously frightened by his mother and grandmother.

Little Golden Child appeared to be about the same age as Bao Bao and Bei Bei, looking plump and adorable; moreover, Elder Lady Mo noticed that there was a resemblance between Golden Child’s eyebrows and eyes and her brother Tong Yuan. Seeing Golden Child and Tong Qiaoqiao crying so sadly, Elder Lady Mo couldn’t bear it and felt a surge of pity.

Bao Bao and Bei Bei had never cried so pitifully before.

Since Elder Lady Mo had Bao Bao and Bei Bei, these adorable little ones, she couldn’t stand to see children cry...

The hearts of the elderly soften.

Indeed, Li Xiangzhi said one thing that was very true: grievances between adults should not involve the children, no matter what, Tong Qiaoqiao was her only niece.

Tong Qiaoqiao was not involved in the events of that year.

As the sole bloodline of her brother left in this world, Elder Lady Mo had to take responsibility for this matter.

The expression changes of Elder Lady Mo didn’t escape Li Xiangzhi’s eyes. Li Xiangzhi, a master of manipulation, immediately said to Elder Lady Mo, "Sister, I beg you to show great kindness and take in Qiaoqiao and her child. I was wrong toward you and Zhixuan back then, and I have regretted it all these years. I have wronged you, and I bow my head to you! Sister, you are Qiaoqiao’s aunt; she is your niece. If I am no longer around in the future, you will be her birth mother. Please treat her well. Qiaoqiao is also a child of misfortune, becoming a widow two years into her marriage, and has been living a hard life with me all these years. I ask that you find a good household for her in the future, I thank you in advance..."

With Tong Qiaoqiao by Elder Lady Mo’s side in the future, her status would definitely rise accordingly. Even as a second marriage, she could certainly marry very well. That she would marry into a prestigious family was without question, and Li Xiangzhi was calculating this with resounding clarity.

"Sister, please show great magnanimity; don’t stoop to a child’s level of understanding. I know I am a sinner. I no longer dare to ask for your forgiveness..."

Li Xiangzhi spoke with tears streaming like rain, her sadness penetrating, and her remorse full.

Elder Lady Mo sighed, "Enough, Qiaoqiao, you bring the child inside." Saying this, Elder Lady Mo glanced at Li Xiangzhi, "As for you, Li Xiangzhi, return to wherever you came from." Elder Lady Mo could accept Tong Qiaoqiao, but she could not accept Li Xiangzhi.

The things Li Xiangzhi did back then were too much.

"Thank you, sister, for being willing to take in Qiaoqiao and the child," Li Xiangzhi wiped her tears, stood up, and pushed Tong Qiaoqiao toward the door, "Qiaoqiao, your aunt has forgiven you. Go in quickly, and remember to always honor your aunt well in the future, she is a good person..."

"No, Mom, I can’t just go in like this; I need to be by your side." Tong Qiaoqiao clung tightly to Li Xiangzhi’s hand, unwilling to let go.

"Qiaoqiao, Mom knows you’re a good child with filial piety, but with the situation as it is, you won’t have a good life following me. Please go in with your aunt," Li Xiangzhi wiped away a tear, the very image of a loving mother.

Little Golden Child clung to Li Xiangzhi’s leg, wailing, "I don’t want to! Grandma!"

This scene of separation between flesh and blood was somewhat difficult to watch, leaving a heartbreaking feeling.

"Aunt, please forgive my mother," Tong Qiaoqiao knelt down in front of Elder Mo’s wife, "Aunt, what’s past is past, no matter what my mother was like before, she has now realized her mistakes. My dad has passed away, and I can’t lose my mother as well, Aunt, I beg you... I don’t want to become an orphan..."

"Great-aunt, forgive my grandmother, please..." Little Jinsi followed and knelt down as well.

The three generations knelt in a line, and even if Elder Mo’s wife had a heart of stone, she couldn’t bear such a scene.

Elder Mo’s wife let out a deep sigh, closed her eyes, "Come in then."

At this point, it would be best to let bygones be bygones.

Hearing this, Tong Qiaoqiao’s eyes lit up, and she immediately said, "Thank you, Auntie, thank you, Auntie!"

"Thank you, sister!" Li Xiangzhi was also overcome with emotion and pressing Little Jinsi’s head, said, "Little Jinsi, quickly thank your great-aunt."

"Thank you, great-aunt." Little Jinsi then stopped crying.

Elder Mo’s wife had the gates opened and slowly spoke, "Come inside first."

Only then did the three of them enter, with Tong Qiaoqiao and her daughter Li Xiangzhi exchanging a look and a smile that was filled with smug satisfaction, fleeting in their eyes.

Elder Mo’s wife led them toward the imperial palace.

As Li Xiangzhi and Tong Qiaoqiao walked, disbelief filled their eyes.

The exterior decoration of the imperial palace was already imposing and magnificent, exuding an overwhelming presence. They didn’t expect that the interior would be even more luxuriously decorated, dazzling everywhere with gold and brilliance, hardly inferior to the palaces of ancient times.

Just the thought of living here in the future excited both mother and daughter beyond measure.

The imperial palace, after all...

It’s not a place just anyone can reside in.

However, just as the mother and daughter were starting to dream, Elder Mo’s wife mercilessly shattered their illusions.

Elder Mo’s wife slowly said, "You and your daughter, along with Little Jinsi, can stay here for a while. Once I have made suitable living arrangements for you, you will move out."

Upon hearing this, the mother and daughter’s hearts immediately cooled, for they didn’t want to leave the imperial palace once they’d come in.

Li Xiangzhi gave Tong Qiaoqiao a look, and Tong Qiaoqiao immediately took Elder Mo’s wife’s arm, smiling, "Aunt, my cousin and I haven’t seen each other for over twenty years, and I want to spend more time with you. My father passed away so suddenly, seeing you makes me feel like I’m seeing my father again. You don’t need to hurry to find us a house, we’re all family, there’s no need for the trouble. My mother and I staying here is fine, and besides, I can keep you company. Isn’t that killing two birds with one stone?"

Tong Qiaoqiao appeared gentle and kind, making her seem at first glance like a good girl, which is why Elder Mo’s wife had a rather good impression of her.

"Sister, Qiaoqiao is right, the imperial palace is so big, and empty rooms are just going to waste. My daughter, Qiaoqiao, Little Jinsi can make do with living here, there’s no need for you to spend extra money just to find us a place," Li Xiangzhi continued.

Elder Mo’s wife replied, "Qiaoqiao, your aunt knows you mean well, but the imperial palace is ultimately where your cousin and his wife live. It would be inconvenient for you and your mother to stay here long-term. I will have someone else take care of the housing, it’s no trouble at all. In the future, if you miss me, you can come to see me anytime."

Tong Qiaoqiao nodded, "Alright, Aunt, then I’ll leave everything to you." Elder Mo’s wife had already said as much, and if she insisted any further, it would be all too transparent.

Li Xiangzhi did not speak further; some things couldn’t be rushed and had to be approached slowly. That Elder Mo’s wife had accepted her so quickly was already beyond her expectations.

Moreover, anything that came from Elder Mo’s wife’s hands was extraordinary. She was sure they would be given an estate. If they really did get an estate, then everything she did today would be worth it.

Li Xiangzhi also said, smiling obsequiously, "Thank you, sister, for being so generous. You don’t know how much I’ve regretted what happened every day and night. Up until his last moments, Tong Yuan was always talking about not being able to see you for the last time. He told me that the person he owed the most in this life was you, sister."

Hearing this, Elder Mo’s wife stopped, looked at Li Xiangzhi, and spoke slowly, "The one who owes me an apology has never been Tong Yuan, and I’ve never blamed him."

The atmosphere seemed to freeze in that instant, and Li Xiangzhi felt extremely awkward. She knew full well the implication of Elder Mo’s wife’s words.

What she meant was, it was Li Xiangzhi whom she blamed.

Li Xiangzhi smiled, but inside she was blaming the Mo family’s matriarch for being too petty. After all, it had already been said that past grievances would be overlooked, so why bring them up again now? To kill a person, one only needs to strike their head.

Although Li Xiangzhi was dissatisfied, she did not show the slightest hint of it on her face. At this moment, she was the one in need of shelter, and couldn’t afford to look down on anyone.

"Let it be," sighed the Mo family’s matriarch, "in front of the children, I no longer wish to bring up the past."

"Yes, yes, Big Sister is so magnanimous," Li Xiangzhi said with an obliging smile.

The imperial palace was vast, and it took them about ten minutes to reach the main hall.

The main hall was dazzling with opulence, filled with carvings of dragons and phoenixes everywhere, the epitome of luxury.

Tong Qiaoqiao was so amazed by all this that her mouth hung open in awe. If she could live here forever, she would be willing to do anything.

Unfortunately, she was only staying temporarily; she didn’t have such good fortune...

The family’s servants quickly served tea and snacks.

"Please sit, no need to stand on ceremony," the Mo family’s matriarch said casually with a wave of her hand.

"Sister, rest assured, we are all one family. Being here is just like being at my own home, so Qiaoqiao, little Jin, and I won’t be polite," Li Xiangzhi said, fawning.

Indeed, fortunes rise and fall over thirty years.

More than twenty years ago, Li Xiangzhi would have never imagined that Mo Zhixuan could turn his fortunes around and become the most revered person in the Three Worlds.

If only she had known what the future held, she would have treated Mo Zhixuan like an ancestor rather than severing ties with him.

The matriarch of the Mo family, her eyes brimming with mirth, handed little Jin a piece of candy, "Little Jin, have some candy." If it weren’t for her niece Tong Qiaoqiao, she would have never let Li Xiangzhi step foot in here.

It was Tong Qiaoqiao’s words, "I have already lost my father, I cannot lose my mother as well," that had moved the matriarch.

The matriarch of the Mo family was a single mother herself, and knew the challenges faced by a child raised in a single-parent home.

Seeing that the matriarch seemed reluctant to deal with her, Li Xiangzhi was not embarrassed and instead smiled, "Little Jin, go on and take Grandma’s candy. See how much Grandma likes you? In the future, you must show a lot of filial piety to Grandma."

Only then did little Jin accept the candy from the matriarch’s hand, and said very politely, "Thank you, Grandma. Rest assured, when I grow up, I will definitely be good to you."

With a beaming smile, the matriarch said, "Don’t mention it. There are two other kids in the house about your age. I will have them come to play with you later." The matriarch was very fond of children.

"Okay," responded little Jin, nodding and then unwrapping the candy to eat it.

The Mo family’s matriarch then instructed, "Qinghe, go and ask Jin and Zhixuan to bring the kids over for a bit, tell them we have guests."

"Yes, Elder," Qinghe complied and left.

Li Xiangzhi continued, "Speaking of which, it’s been over twenty years since I last saw Zhixuan. I’ve heard he’s become a father now. Sister, you’re really blessed to have your children and grandchildren around you so quickly." The most important thing was Chu Jin, now a well-known figure in the Three Worlds as the reincarnation of the ancient empress. If it wasn’t for Chu Jin, Mo Zhixuan wouldn’t have risen so quickly.

The Mo family’s matriarch’s eyes smiled, but she did not reply.

Li Xiangzhi picked up her cup, took a sip of tea, and a sharp light flickered in her eyes.

It could be seen that although the matriarch of the Mo family didn’t like her very much, she was quite fond of her niece Tong Qiaoqiao. If only they could become even closer relatives, perhaps then all resentments would dissipate naturally.

It wasn’t long before Mo Zhixuan arrived with Chu Jin.

Bao Bao and Bei Bei followed behind them, giggling and chattering about who knows what.

The combined presence of these two was enough to astonish others.