The Emperor's Favorite: The Useless and Crazy Concubine Who Conquers the World

Ling Xiu Han frowned, he knew that Lan Yunyan's worries were not groundless.

He pondered for a moment, then said, "We need to be more cautious, but also proactive. First, we must strengthen security at the manor and ensure that all entrances and exits are guarded. Second, we must investigate the killer's background and find out the forces behind him."

Lan Yunyan nodded. She knew Ling Xiuhan's words made sense. She asked, "Where should we begin our investigation?"

Ling Xiu Han replied, "We can start with this black stone. This type of stone is not common, and it may be the symbol of the killer's organization. We can try to ask around on the black market to see if anyone recognizes this stone."

Lan Yunyan picked up the black stone and carefully examined the symbols on it. She agreed with Ling Xiuhan's suggestion and decided to start the action early tomorrow morning.

The next day, Lan Yunyan and Ling Xiuhan headed to a nearby town. They arrived at an underground market, a hodgepodge of people of all stripes. They found a knowledgeable-looking merchant and showed him the black stone.

The merchant's eyes flashed with surprise when he saw the stone, but he quickly regained his composure. He said, "I've certainly seen this kind of stone before, but its origins are very mysterious. I only know it's connected to an organization called the 'Shadow Society.'"

Lan Yunyan and Ling Xiuhan exchanged a glance, realizing that this 'Shadow Society' might be their target. After thanking the merchant, they decided to investigate the organization further.

They began to inquire about the news of the Shadow Society in the town, but most people avoided talking about this organization and seemed to be very afraid of it. This further strengthened their suspicion that this organization must have powerful forces and terrible methods.

After much effort, they finally found an informant willing to share information. The informant told them that the Shadow Society was a secret assassination organization that undertook various assassination missions and had never failed. The informant also explained that members of the Shadow Society bore a distinctive mark that closely resembled the symbol on the stone in Lan Yunyan's hand.

Lan Yunyan and Ling Xiuhan knew they had found a clue, but they also knew that this organization was extremely dangerous and they had to proceed with caution. They decided to return to the manor first to discuss countermeasures with Old Master Lan.

After returning to the manor, Lan Yunyan told Old Master Lan about their findings. Old Master Lan's expression was solemn. He said, "The Shadow Society is indeed a dangerous organization. We cannot take it lightly. We must strengthen the manor's defenses while searching for more clues to find out who hired them."

Lan Yunyan and Ling Xiuhan both agreed. They knew this fight would be difficult, but they also knew they couldn't back down. They began to make plans, preparing for the greater challenges that might come.

In the days that followed, Lan Yunyan and Ling Xiuhan increased security at the manor while continuing to investigate the Shadow Society. They discovered that the organization seemed to have numerous connections with many powerful figures, which made them even more vigilant.

They also began to strengthen their training, ready to respond to possible attacks at any time. Lan Yunyan knew that she had to become stronger to protect the safety of her family.

One evening, after training, Lan Yunyan walked alone along the path of the manor. Her heart was heavy, but her eyes remained firm. She knew that no matter how difficult the road ahead, she would not give up.

Suddenly, she felt a chill on her back and turned around quickly, the dagger in her hand ready for defense. However, she found that there was no one behind her, only the moonlight quietly shining on the ground.

She breathed a sigh of relief, but the uneasiness in her heart became stronger. She knew that this struggle had just begun and she had to remain vigilant at all times.

Lan Yunyan returned to her room and sat by the window, gazing at the moon in the night sky. She knew that as long as she persisted, one day she would uncover all the mysteries and protect the safety of her family.

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, her eyes gleaming with determination. She knew that no matter how many challenges the future held, she was ready to face them.

As the night deepened, Lan Yunyan's thoughts became clearer.

She knew that facing an enemy like the Shadow Society, she would need more allies and a more thorough plan. She decided to set out again the next morning to contact the families that had not yet expressed their stance.

The next day, at daybreak, Lan Yunyan set out with Ling Xiuhan and several loyal secret guards. They first headed to the nearby Lin family, a family with a long-standing friendship, and Lan Yunyan hoped to gain their support.

Lin Tiannan, the head of the Lin family, was an experienced elder. After listening to Lan Yunyan's statement, he pondered for a moment and then said, "Yunyan, I know that the threat of the 'Shadow Society' cannot be ignored, but you know, our Lin family has also encountered some troubles recently. I need to think about it."

Lan Yunyan understood Lin Tiannan's concerns. She didn't push him, but offered any possible help. She believed that if the Lin family joined their alliance, their chances of success against the Shadow Society would greatly increase.

Over the next few days, Lan Yunyan and Ling Xiuhan continued their errands among the various clans, and their efforts gradually paid off. Some clans, moved by their sincerity, agreed to join the alliance. However, others chose to wait and see, unwilling to become easily drawn into the conflict.

Lan Yunyan was not discouraged. She knew that every family had its own considerations. She decided to continue gathering intelligence on the Shadow Society.

They discovered that the members of the 'Shadow Society' were carefully selected and trained, and they acted secretly, leaving almost no trace.