Reading this thread, I can’t help but recommend my favourite female lead: Ning Xiaoyao from Unruly Phoenix Xiaoyao! It’s a novel translated by volarenovels so the quality is guaranteed!
She’s the strongest character in the book, dashing to the point of piercing the heavens—pfft—she’s a little muddle-headed and has a few screws loose but she’s incredibly charming! Because of her messy family history, she had to crossdress as a man, became the emperor, then had to fend herself off against the Grand Preceptor (who is her maternal grandfather). Oh, did I mention she was reincarnated from a zombie-infested world and can talk to animals?
There’s romance in it from the get-go, but the focus is mostly comedy and court politics.
But of course, our Yao Yao don’t need no man! She’s a stronk independent woman! Literally, the male lead gets his ass saved by her so many times I lost count, that useless prick.