My Dear Wife, Please Be Gentle!-Chapter 1203 - 1209: Capital’s Richest Tycoon

"Thank you," Qiao Duo’er was very sincere.

She would never be able to fully repay what Bai Yifan had done for her in this lifetime.

"Do you have to be so formal with me? I’m your third brother. It’s my duty to do anything for you. Instead, you must take good care of yourself."

Bai Yifan now felt only pity for Duo’er.

Pregnancy, which should have been a joyous occasion, had been complicated by the envy of the Madam.

Had he known it would come to this, he would have struck deeper when taking the heart’s blood from Li Mu’er.

After giving some more instructions, Duo’er stood up to take her leave.

Just as she stepped out, Tan Zhenghong greeted her, "Such a big incident and you weren’t going to tell me, planning to shoulder it all alone?"

"You knew already?" Qiao Duo’er’s gaze flickered.

Tan Zhenghong spoke truthfully, "I woke up just as you did and have been waiting at the door for you."

So, he had heard every word she said to Bai Yifan.

Thinking that he was not the person Duo’er trusted and depended on the most, his eyes inevitably dimmed.

"I was afraid you’d worry."

"If you don’t tell me, I’ll worry even more. From now on, you can’t hide anything from me, and our child will definitely be fine," Tan Zhenghong said seriously.

"I believe in you, and I believe in our child," Qiao Duo’er nodded.

If she, as a mother, couldn’t trust her own child, then who else would?

In truth, she should have told Tan Zhenghong earlier because he was the child’s father. He had the right to know everything about the child.

A month and a half flew by, and other than being sleepy, Duo’er experienced no discomfort. Bai Yifan said the pregnancy was stabilizing, and the worried hearts of everyone began to settle.

Taking advantage of the nice weather, Qiao Duo’er invited Tan Zhenghong out to stroll the streets and inspect their family businesses.

Otherwise, the eldest child would again complain about her being a hands-off boss.

When they reached the entrance of Duo Meifang, Duo’er was stunned.

Duo Meifang had no patrons coming in; instead, it was so empty one could catch sparrows at the door.

All the other branches were booming with business upon opening, in high demand. How could it be so desolate here in Mansion City?

She had even advertised at the Qin Family banquet.

Looking across at the shop opposite Duo Meifang, she instantly understood.

A new establishment called Yan Meige had opened there. It was decadently decorated, with many ladies and young misses coming and going.

Tan Zhenghong knew he couldn’t hide it, so he revealed, "That shop is a cooperative venture between Prince Liang and the Capital’s richest man, selling goods similar to ours but at prices thirty percent lower. Customers are willing to buy from them instead."

"Who is the richest man in the Capital?"

Qiao Duo’er narrowed her eyes; the title of richest man alone suggested that he was not a person to be trifled with.

But to encroach onto her plate—did they really think she was just a paper tiger?

"It’s the Shen Family. When the Daxing Dynasty was founded, the Shen Family ancestor made significant contributions. The Great Ancestor Emperor bestowed many advantages on their family, and after two generations, they rose to the position of richest. Recently, the third head of the family died abruptly, and after a period of turmoil in the Shen Family, the peasant son Shen Liu became the head of the family with the support of the Empress’s bloodline."

Tan Zhenghong had already investigated the Shen Family’s background, but he hadn’t yet figured out how to deal with them.

After all, the Shen Family controlled nearly forty percent of the Daxing Dynasty’s economy and also had ties to the Royal Family.

In comparison, the Tan Family was almost without any strength to fight.

"It’s a pity the Shen Family has come to this end," said Qiao Duo’er with a sigh.

The reason the Empress’s bloodline supported Shen Liu was simple: the battle for the throne was never without the need for gold and silver support.

Sometimes, the economic situation directly determined who was the final victor.

Therefore, Shen Liu could only use his silver to support the Empress’s bloodline until... the Shen Family was emptied, or the Empress’s bloodline fell from power.