Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1111 - 1108_1

Chapter 1111: Chapter 1108_1

The Fengxiang Cosmetics Shop was the finest purveyor of cosmetics and spices in the Imperial City, with many of its spices imported from Nangong Country. Not only did it sell spices, but it also offered a variety of rouge and face powders.

While Xiao’er’s own space was amply stocked with spices and rouge, and even her beauty salon sold them, she still opted to buy from other shops. Not for her own use, but rather to understand the level of production and technology in this era.

The same logic applied to her recommendation to Shangguan Xuanyi to propose to the emperor an opening of ports for trade with overseas countries. Making money was secondary; the key was to understand the production levels of overseas countries to avoid the risk of her own country falling too far behind. After all, to fall behind was to be vulnerable.

She was determined to avoid the isolationist policies of certain dynasties.

Xiao’er and the Fifth Princess had just walked into the Fengxiang Spice Shop when they saw Shangguan Wanru leaving.

The sight of Xiao’er in the shop startled Shangguan Wanru, a flash of panic appearing momentarily on her face before she quickly regained composure.

"Wanru, did you come to buy cosmetics or spices?" the Fifth Princess asked cheerfully upon seeing Shangguan Wanru.

With a slight smile, Shangguan Wanru replied, "I just came to see if there were any new arrivals. Are you also here for spices?"

"Yes indeed."

"Well, you take your time. I have to leave due to some business," Shangguan Wanru hurriedly excused herself after the short conversation.

The Fifth Princess, taken aback by Shen Wanru’s rush, couldn’t help but frown, "I was going to invite her to dine with us!"

"Perhaps the princess had other responsibilities," Xiao’er calmly observed Shangguan Wanru’s retreating figure. "Let’s proceed," she added, "Wasn’t it you who wanted to buy some mosquito-repelling spices? Better hurry; if Young Master Jiang’s face gets bitten by mosquitoes again tonight, you’ll be upset!"

"You’re always teasing me!" the Fifth Princess blushed at Xiao’er’s words and stormed off into the shop.

The princess indeed had many items on her shopping list, not for purchasing for the palace, but for the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion.

There was presently no mistress in the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion, and with Jiang Yuheng newly assuming his position as the Duke of Zhen and preoccupied with the affairs of the Imperial Court, many matters at the mansion were not well-managed. For instance, looking over military books at night, being bitten by mosquitoes, and upon searching for incense to repel mosquitoes, finding that the entire Duke’s Mansion had run out of incense.

Only after she noticed the swollen bites on Jiang Yuheng’s face did the Fifth Princess learn about the matter. As such, this shopping venture was intended to replenish the supplies at the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion.

As the two entered, the shopkeeper enthusiastically greeted them, "What would you ladies like to purchase?"

"I am looking for top-quality mosquito-repelling spices."

Xiao’er remained silent, only glancing casually at the merchandise in the shop.

"I’m sorry, we’ve run out of mosquito-repelling spices. Recently, the weather has warmed, emboldening the mosquitoes. We’ve had so many customers seeking this specific type of incense. Furthermore, since our country is at war with Nangong Country, the merchants from Nangong have ceased their supply to us, causing a shortage in many types of spices, especially the mosquito-repelling kind."

The Fifth Princess frowned at this news, "When will your stock be replenished?"

"No idea. We don’t know when this war will conclude and the traders from Nangong will resume supplying us. I guess we will have to wait till the war ends. It’s tough running a business!"

Xiao’er, upon hearing the shopkeeper’s words, examined him more closely. She could not help feeling that he appeared to lament their own country’s assault on Nangong Country. Nevertheless, she did not comment.

Noticing that one of the rouge boxes on the shelf seemed to have been opened, Xiao’er, assuming it was a tester, reached for it. But the shopkeeper quickly intercepted and plucked the box from the shelf. "My apologies, Miss, but this box of rouge has been reserved."

Someone already reserved it? With so much inventory, why would anyone need to reserve? Xiao’er glanced at the shopkeeper without a word, then resumed perusing the other items.

It was at this point that the Fifth Princess suggested, "Let’s go, Xiao’er, let’s explore every shop to see if we can find any stock."

Xiao’er nodded, and the two exited the cosmetics shop.

The pair visited a few more spice shops only to find that the mosquito-repelling spice was sold out everywhere. Moreover, even if it was available, the prices were exorbitantly high for inferior quality goods.

Every shop owner claimed that the traders from Nangong Country had deliberately discontinued the mosquito-repelling spice, resulting in a wide-ranging stock-out. The spices they obtained from other places were not only extremely expensive but also of poorer quality.

Upon learning this, Xiao’er told the Fifth Princess, "Do not make any purchases for now. The Wang Mansion has a good reserve of spices. I will ask someone to send some to the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion."

"Will there be enough left in the mansion if you send some to the Duke’s mansion?"

"There will be plenty. The war between the two kingdoms will inevitably impact some merchants. We should think of ways to minimize this impact as much as possible."

The tired pair, after half a day of shopping, decided to return home. Xiao’er was concerned about her children. They hadn’t even eaten, deciding to head straight back to their respective residences.

Upon returning to her mansion, Xiao’er faced a cacophony of crying from her children.

Upon seeing Xiao’er’s return, the wet nurse, Yang Mei, breathed a sigh of relief. "Princess, thank goodness you’re back. The young masters woke up, played for a bit, and then cried continuously upon realizing you weren’t present. No matter how we tried to soothe them or feed them milk, they absolutely refused."

Xiao’er hurried over to her children. Because her clothes were dirty from being outdoors, she didn’t pick them up. She just looked at each child and said softly, "Little ones, have you missed your mother?"

Perhaps recognizing the familiar voice, the children’s crying ceased.

"Who would have thought that such young babies would recognize people already!" Yang Liu sighed.

"Put them on the bed and leave us. I can take care of them from here." During her confinement period, Xiao’er and Shangguan Xuanyi had taken the majority of care for the children upon themselves. They would even bring them into the space to sleep at night. Probably because of this, the little ones had started to recognize people.

Knowing that Xiao’er intended to breastfeed her children, Yang Liu and the wet nurse withdrew from the room.

The palace had a wet nurse, but Xiao’er preferred to breastfeed her children herself, and she didn’t like to be attended during nursing.

Once Yang Liu and the others had exited the room and closed the door, Xiao’er took the children into the space and laid them on the jade bed. The kids played with Bai Tian in the space and behaved perfectly fine without shedding any tears or making a fuss.

Inside the space, she quickly cleaned her body and changed into fresh clothes before taking the children out of the space to feed them.