[Rebirth and revenge + divination paintings that foretell disaster + political intrigue and case-solving + marriage before love + strong female lead]
Shen Zhaochun was born with the gift of divination through painting.
She cannot paint riches or glory. All she can paint are disasters yet to come.
In her previous life, the empress lured her into the palace, where she painted a picture called Spring's Return. That very night, the army on the border suffered a crushing defeat. The Shen family was accused of treason and executed to the last member.
Only as she lay dying did she understand: she was no auspicious painter, but a harbinger of disaster being used by others.
When she opened her eyes again, she was fifteen, back on the day her cousin accused her of stealing a painting.
The whole household called her an ill omen, while her cousin waited to make a name for herself by trampling on her.
But Shen Zhaochun picked up her brush and added a corpse to the corner of the painting.
Three days later, a fire broke out at the lantern festival. The corpse appeared just as she had painted it, and the whole capital was thrown into an uproar.
Xie Linyuan, the powerful official in charge of the courts, fixed his eyes on her. “Second Miss Shen, is this painting of yours a prophecy or evidence?”
Shen Zhaochun replied softly, “Why not investigate, my lord? Disasters never come from heaven. People cause them.”
Later, everyone in the capital feared her divination paintings.
Her enemies feared she would paint their deaths, the empress feared she would expose the Mandate of Heaven, and the crown prince feared she would ruin the Eastern Palace's future.
Only Xie Linyuan, his eyes red amid the blood-soaked night at the border, begged her:
“Shen Zhaochun, read my fortune once more.”
“Even if this reading costs you your life.”
