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.
