In the palace, Ren Baqian limped forward with a cane, looking sad.

"Stop pretending! I merely gave you a kick!" the empress muttered.

"One kick and my leg broke!" he exclaimed as he looked at her.

"You deserve it!" she declared before complaining, "Who asked you to make those things? We have become laughingstocks!"

"It's because of the nation's birth rate! Look at the others! They have more than five children in their families. Look at us! All we have are cats. Even pigs are better than us!" Ren Baqian replied angrily.

The empress glared at him.

He lowered his voice and repeated, "Pigs have a higher birth rate than us!"

She lifted her leg, ready to give him a kick.

"My bad!" Ren Baqian apologized promptly and earnestly.

He continued, "Besides, this is a normal form of entertainment for the commoners. How can we allow officials to visit brothels, but not allow them to read these magazines?"

He lifted his head again and reported, "Not to mention that group of old clappers who