Smart Female Lead is a popular tag in Chinese dramas, referring to female protagonists who are intelligent, witty, and capable of making their own decisions. These characters often challenge gender norms and societal expectations, making for compelling and empowering storylines.
Sort by: PopularLatest
A Splendid Match
#1Historical, Romance, DramaGu Jinzhao, the eldest daughter of the Gu family, has lived with her grandmother's family since birth. Neglected by her biological parents but doted on by her grandmother, she grows up living life on her own terms. After returning to the Gu family, Gu Jinchao keeps her claws out, dealing boldly with all kinds of people and situations, unlike typical young ladies of noble households....Glory
#2Historical, RomanceLu Jianglai, a brilliant young scholar who achieves the prestigious title of zhuangyuan (top imperial examination graduate) and is appointed as the magistrate of Chun'an County. He quickly gains fame for solving a series of puzzling cases but is soon dragged into an old, unresolved murder involving a wife's death. This scandal causes his swift fall from grace, transforming him from...The Unclouded Soul
#3Historical, Fantasy, RomanceDriven by desire, both humans and demons have sought the divine Jade Elixir Spring, leading to centuries of relentless conflict among various factions. Xiao Yao, a carefree and quick-witted young girl, unexpectedly embarks on a fantastical journey through the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, turning the demon world upside down. Hong Ye, the revered King of Ten Thousand Demons, who is...The Royal Highness of the Princess
#4Historical, RomanceA minor thirty-sixth-tier actress, An Ran, accidentally time-travels into a script while visiting a film set. To return to the modern era, the dramatic An Ran decides to "play the fool while secretly outsmarting others," only to become entangled in Yuwen Rui’s revenge plot while trying to save a doomed minor character. On the surface, they appear to be a loyal sidekick and a scheming...All Rise
#5LawThe top law firm has launched the "Talent Discovery Program" for the first time to select outstanding interns for employment. After rigorous selection, seven outstanding candidates stood out and arrived at the Beijing headquarters to begin a three-month workplace competition challenge. The competition among the seven interns started with being caught in a rental agency scandal, with...Fight For Love
#6Romance, HistoricalChu Yu’s father dies in battle, and her severely injured elder brother reveals to her that there is much more to the situation than it seems. Determined to uncover the truth, Chu Yu vows to investigate. Meanwhile, the Wei family suffers a devastating defeat in a battle, leaving only the youngest son, Wei Yun, alive. Chu Yu marries into the Wei family, assuming the identity of her...Love in the Clouds
#7Historical, Romance, FantasyA cold and ruthless female war god, poisoned, seeks an antidote. She transforms into a delicate dancing girl to set a love trap for the wanton and dissolute poisoner Ji Bozai, in order to obtain the antidote. However, the other party also conceals their true self, pretending to fall into the trap. The two engage in a game of wit and deceit, push and pull in love, only to unexpectedly...Hilarious Family 2
#8Historical, Romance, ComedyThe innkeeper Ai Sixi, a staunch celibacy advocate, finds herself targeted by the authorities as a "singlehood exemplar" due to an absurd lawsuit. To help her out of this predicament, Jing Kan, who owes Ai Sixi a debt of gratitude, is forced to marry her. What begins as a marriage of convenience, with both expecting to go their separate ways soon after, takes a dramatic turn when the...Echoes of The Self
#9Historical, RomanceZhou Ruoxi, who, in pursuit of ambition, abandons her love for Prince Yan, Li Yan, and schemes her way into marrying the Crown Prince. Just as she is about to hold supreme power, Li Yan storms the palace under the banner of “cleansing the court and executing the treacherous empress,” capturing her in the imperial harem. Yet, this act is not vengeance but his desperate attempt at...Return of the Queen
#10Romance, SuspenseAmidst a glamorous world of wealth and power, Ye Haimeng, the cherished heiress of a prominent family, falls into an abyss of hatred due to a doomed engagement. On one side, Lu Siyu—the younger brother of her enemy—is determined to pull his "sister-in-law" out of the darkness; on the other, Lu Sinan, the mastermind who pushed her into the ruin of her family, lurks in the...Wild Ambition Bloom
#11Historical, Business, DramaIn 1916, Chu Shaohua marries Chen Dashun, the eldest son of the Chen family pharmacy, to save her brother Chu Shaozhong. With her integrity and sharp business skills, she earns the trust of the Chen patriarch and becomes the pharmacy’s manager. After the sudden deaths of Chen Dashun and his father, Chen Ershun inherits the shop but squanders its wealth, leaving the business on the...Shadow Love
#12Historical, Romance, WarGeneral Li Shuang of Tai Jin is a valiant and battle-hardened warrior, ordered to uncover a hidden traitor within one month. One day, she rescues a gravely injured man who has lost all memory and brings him back to her camp. The man begs to stay by her side and follow her into battle. Li Shuang grants him the name Jin An, symbolizing everlasting peace for Tai Jin. Together, they expose...Legend of the Female General
#13Historical, Romance, WuxiaTo preserve her family's noble title, He Yan, the eldest daughter of the He family, is forced to wear a mask and disguise herself as the family's legitimate heir, "He Ru Fei." In her youth, she meets the prodigious Xiao Jue at Xianchang Academy, but to escape her family's fate, she leaves the academy and heads to the battlefield. Years later, He Yan returns in glory, only to be betrayed...Coroner's Diary
#14Historical, Suspense, RomanceShen Yi, the Minister of Justice, is implicated in the Prince Jin case, leading to the tragic extermination of his entire family. His daughter, Shen Wan, assumes the identity of Qin Wan, the ninth daughter of the Qin family, and flees to Jingzhou. Once perceived as weak and easily bullied, Qin Wan undergoes a drastic transformation—she not only excels in healing but also masters...The Princess's Gambit
#15Historical, RomanceShen Zaiye, the Left Chancellor of the Qi Kingdom, who meets Princess Jiang Taohua of the Northern Yuan Kingdom due to a conspiracy by his political enemies. Shen Zaiye is cunning and ruthless, while Jiang Taohua is clever and resourceful. In the turbulent political landscape between the two nations, they outsmart and manipulate each other. Forced to collaborate in the face of powerful...Reborn
#16Youth, Romance, SuspenseTransfer student Qiao Qingyu, who, with the help of rebellious school heartthrob Ming Sheng, gradually uncovers the truth behind her sister's "murder" by the entire village six years prior. As they navigate this journey, the two find mutual redemption and grow together. This narrative not only offers audiences a touching core of multifaceted emotional guardianship, but the young protagonists...The Fallen Lady Returns
#17Historical, RomanceAfter suffering a brutal death at the hands of the Zhou family in her past life, Zhang Xiyin unexpectedly finds herself reborn! Determined to take revenge on her husband, Marquis Ding'an Zhou Yihong, and his second wife Li Yuewan, Zhang Xiyin proactively approaches and forms an alliance with Prince Ji, Duan Jianli, for mutual benefit. However, as their encounters unfold, what began...Be Passionately in Love
#18Youth, Romance, SchoolThe story begins in the rainy southern city of Qingyi. Xu Zhi, known as the "dark horse of Ruijun," meets Chen Luzhou, the "barely-passed top scorer." Due to a misunderstanding, the story between the tough girl "Zhi Zong" and the "Poet Chen" begins. During their playful and teasing interactions, the ambiguous atmosphere intensifies, leading to a "tug-of-war" of emotions. Unfortunately,...Youthful Glory
#19Historical, RomanceIn the eleventh year of the Chengkang reign, Jiang Xu, who has been guarding the border for eight years, returns to the Da Xian dynasty to investigate the embezzlement of military funds in the Dingbei Army. Unexpectedly, the case of embezzlement involves a vast conspiracy, and to uncover the real culprit and purge the court, Jiang Xu voluntarily marries Ming Tan, a noblewoman from another...The Prisoner of Beauty
#20Historical, Romance, PoliticalDuring a time of chaos, Wei Shao, having suffered the loss of his father and brothers, devotes himself to revitalizing his family and taking on its heavy responsibilities. As he leads his clan to avenge the humiliating massacre they once endured, he comes to realize that what the people truly need is not revenge and war, but peace. For the sake of the people's livelihood, he sends...Love in Pavilion
#21Historical, Romance, FantasyIn ancient times, humans and demons coexisted. To resist the black fox’s attempts to corrupt hearts and to protect the safety of both races, the "Three Young Masters of Aolai" established boundaries between the inner and outer regions. They formed the Yi Qi Alliance, composed of prestigious families such as the Wangquan and Dongfang clans, and created the Inspection Division to...Marry to the Enemy of My Enemy
#22Romance, SuspenseHeiress Xia Nuan bravely risks everything to save her sister, who suffers from kidney disease, only to unknowingly fall into a carefully planned kidney exchange conspiracy orchestrated by her stepsister, Ji Yiran. On the operating table, Xia Nuan struggles between life and death, but at the last moment, she is dramatically saved by boxer Zhong Xinyang. However, this narrow escape is...Serendipity
#23Historical, Romance, SuspenseJian Ming Shu, the young lady of the Jiangning Jian family, who unexpectedly falls off a cliff and loses her memory, escaping a tragic massacre of her family. She is saved by her love interest, Lu Chang, and they travel together to the capital for the imperial exam. As the story progresses, Ming Shu, who has doubts about her own identity, enters the inner courtyard to investigate and...Spring Burning
#24Romance, DramaSet in the 1980s, the story follows Lu Ran, a highly intelligent and tough-minded female university student, who is forcibly "married off" by her malicious uncle and aunt for a high bride price to a poor, ugly man with a daughter and a history of domestic violence. Refusing to let fate decide her life, Lu Ran decisively escapes from the arranged marriage. Unexpectedly, during her escape,...Les Belles
#25Historical, RomanceBoth prideful individuals gradually develop feelings for each other, but neither is willing to admit it first. At this time, the "refugee incident" erupts, intensifying the conflict between the noble families and commoners at the court. To promote equality between the two classes, Lu Yun risks his life to investigate the issue. During her efforts to help him, Luo Lingyu realizes that...Kill My Sins
#26Historical, SuspenseThe wandering physician Ye Ping'an arrives in the divine capital of Luoyang while investigating a mysterious old case. However, a series of bizarre and sinister medical visits earns her the reputation of a witch doctor. Clever and manipulative, she is shunned and feared by everyone. Meanwhile, Yuan Shaocheng, a deputy minister at the Dali Temple, is ostracized as a "dirty rat" due to...Everlasting Longing
#27Historical, Romance, DramaJun Qiluo and her brother Jun Feifan, both of whom have dual identities, are captured by Xuan Lie during their journey to the North. With different motives, the two head north together. Throughout the journey, they test and guard against each other, experiencing life-and-death situations, from their fateful encounter to heartbreaking separation. Their intense "battle of love" unfolds...Live or Love?
#28Fantasy, RomanceThe real-life competitors Fang Li and An Hang, who, after an accident, find themselves trapped in a virtual world and become a married couple. However, their system tasks are in direct opposition, and they must defeat each other to return to reality. As a result, the two engage in intense competition, becoming the "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" of the system. In the process of loving and fighting,...Under the Moonlight
#29Historical, Suspense, RomanceLuo Shu, whose fate has been full of hardships and who, despite being mired in adversity, bravely seeks to save herself, encounters Qi Menglin, a spirited young man who is determined to explore the world. Together, they stand side by side, facing the storms and solving cases. Many of the cases they investigate involve women, and whenever they encounter a pitiful woman in the case, they...Flourished Peony
#30Historical, Romance, DramaAfter the merchant's daughter He Weifang meets Jiang Changyang, the prominent figure in Chang'an, the two form a partnership as a craftsman and an investor. Leveraging He Weifang's exceptional skills in cultivating rare peonies and her outstanding business acumen, she leads a group of women with tumultuous destinies to collectively run a flower shop. Through numerous trials and tribulations,...Blossom
#31Historical, RomanceDou Zhao, who lost her mother at a young age, becomes disillusioned with love and familial affection due to the hardships and upheavals in her life. Facing challenges such as scheming stepmothers and safeguarding her family’s assets, she retreats to a remote estate, dedicating herself to learning and self-reliance. On a stormy night, she encounters Song Mo, disguised as a merchant...The Story of Pearl Girl
#32Historical, Romance, BusinessIn Hepu, a pearl-harvesting slave named Duanwu escapes from the human-devouring pearl field during the Dragon Boat Festival, overcoming countless obstacles. She crosses paths with a Western merchant, Yan Zijin, and the gentle scholar, Zhang Jinran. Joining Yan’s caravan, she pushes forward, reaching closer to the dazzling world of gemstones. However, on the journey through the northwest,...Kill Me Love Me
#33Historical, RomancePrince Murong Jinghe of the Dayan Empire led the Wei Bei army to reclaim the lost territory of Qingzhou. After their victorious entry into the city, a sudden fire erupted. Rumors spread that Murong Jinghe, harboring resentment against the Qingzhou people for betraying Dayan, ordered the city to be burned, turning him from a just general into a feared butcher. A Qingzhou girl, Mei Lin,...The Rise of Ning
#34Historical, Romance, DramaLuo Yining, a daughter of the Luo family who grew up in a separate mansion, was never bound by strict rules and customs. She couldn't bear to see the bullying faced by "Third Brother" Luo Shenyuan and extended her help multiple times. Gradually, she discovered that Luo Shenyuan, despite appearing down and out, was actually talented in both literature and martial arts. Having suffered...Love in the Desert
#35Historical, RomanceHuang Beishuang, the most beautiful woman of the desert and the princess of a fallen tribe, unexpectedly becomes the envoy for the arranged marriage of the Enaci tribe, heading to Yunpei City. Along the way, she crosses paths with Huo Qingyun, the lord of Beijing, and is reluctantly drawn into the power struggle to unify the desert. Meanwhile, the desert bandit Ruo Wen, after mistakenly...Fateful Love
#36Historical, Romance, FantasyHan Ziqing, a concubine daughter of a prime minister, accidentally encounters Jun Beiyue, the god of war of Tianming. She is forced to get involved in the strife between powerful countries and foreign clans. In order to unravel the mystery, Han Ziqing and Jun Beiyue fight together with various powerful forces on the Longyuan Continent. After going through a lot of difficult tests,...Are You the One
#37Historical, Romance, DramaThe clever and decisive Liu Miantang, as the first lord of Yangshan, led the people of Yangshan to punish the wicked, promote goodness, and uphold justice. However, he suffered serious injuries under the attack of various evil forces and was rescued by Cui Xingzhou, the Prince of Huaiyang. When Liu Miantang woke up, she had no memory of Yangshan, mistaking Cui Xingzhou for her husband Cui Jiu. ...The Princess Royal
#38Historical, Fantasy, RomancePrincess Li Rong of the Da Xia Dynasty and the current Grand Chancellor Pei Wenxuan journey back to their youthful years in their dreams. They transform from enemies to close confidants, and from confidants to lovers. Trusting and supporting each other, they finally mend their broken relationship, embarking on their ventures together, uncovering the truth together, and ultimately discovering...Beauty Strategy
#39Romance, HistoricalThe Xuan Kun Continent is ruled by five clans. Six years ago, during the great war among the five clans, the human army achieved a decisive victory over the other four clans, establishing human supremacy. During the war, Princess Shuoye of the Spirit clan narrowly escaped and disappeared. Six years later, Princess Shuoye, under the alias Lingzhi, infiltrates the human royal palace to...The Double
#40Historical, Suspense, RomanceXue Li, the daughter of a well-off and content county magistrate, loses everything after a major upheaval. Saved by her benefactor, Jiang Ruoyu, the daughter of the Minister of Rites, she returns to the capital city in Jiang Ruoyu's identity. With the help of people like Xiao Heng, the Duke of Suguo, she overcomes numerous challenges, continually fights against injustice, and ultimately...My Wife's Double Life
#41Historical, Romance, ComedyThe mysterious thief "Liu Ye Thief", whose name is Liu Rong, was saved by Duke Su 13 years ago during a flood in the south. To repay him for saving her life, Liu Rong marries Xu Muchen as Su Jinzhen, the daughter of Duke Su. Both husband and wife have no feelings for this marriage. On the surface, Liu Rong is the gentle and caring Mrs. Xu, but in secret, she is the "Liu Ye Thief". Under...Young Babylon
#42Youth, Romance, FriendshipIn the early 1990s, in the small coastal town of Fucheng in southeastern China, a group of young people chasing their youth on the train of the times, they were passionate and reckless, growing wildly with abandon. They underwent a transformation, seeking the extraordinary in the ordinary, amidst the pursuit of the stars and the sea. In the most vibrant and radiant era of youth, they...Lady Revenger Returns From the Fire
#43Historical, RomanceThe gentle and serene Miss Luo Ailian of the Luo family, due to an unexpected disaster, lost everything overnight. After enduring numerous hardships, Luo Ailian, who had experienced a near-death experience, underwent a phoenix-like transformation, becoming Shen Danqing, a lady of both literary and martial prowess in the escort agency. From then on, she was reborn from the ashes, embarking...Blossoms in Adversity
#44Romance, HistoricalQinggui Hua Mansion suddenly faces confiscation and exile, leaving only women and children desperate and destitute. Miss Huazhi, no longer pretending to be foolish and naive, leads the women, navigating through adversity with determination and wit. Along the way, she turns the Qixiu Defterdar Gu Yanxi into the charming and beloved "Mr. Yan." Amidst the chaos and warmth, Huazhi evolves...Guess Who I Am
#45Suspense, Thriller, RomanceAccording to legend, there is a person wandering in Jianghu who makes wealthy scumbags tremble at the mention of her name. Her name is Song Yao, and she specializes in punishing scumbags and has never failed. All of this is due to her fantastic ability - to attract the rich. Any wealthy person with a net worth of over 100 million yuan who meets her gaze will be unable to resist falling...In Blossom
#46Historical, Romance, SuspenseIn the city of He Yang, where sin reigns, Pan Yue, admired by many women for his charm, marries the universally despised Yang Caiwei. On their wedding day, Yang Caiwei is murdered, and the prime suspect is Pan Yue. However, Yang Caiwei miraculously returns from the dead, assuming the fierce persona of "evil woman" Shangguan Zhi, determined to expose Pan Yue's true nature. As they bravely...Yongan Dream
#47Historical, Romance, FantasyIn the capital city of Yong An, the collapse of the West City Canal leads to the sudden downfall of Shangshu Shen Wenqi, the official in charge of the project, who finds himself imprisoned overnight. With the nest overturned, the two daughters of the Shen family, Shen Mei and Shen Zhen, also fall into dire straits. Particularly, the younger daughter, Shen Zhen, who has been sheltered...Sword and Fairy
#48Historical, Romance, FantasyYue Jinzhao, a young man from a small town, and his sister, Yue Qi, have been wandering in the Jinghu for many years. By chance, they meet the young master of the Luo family, Luo Zhaoyin, and learn that Yue Qi's mother, Chu Yu, is the head of the dreaded Kunpeng Valley. The people have been suffering for years because of the "magic medicine - Qi Yuan Zhu" spread in the Kunpeng Valley,...Different Princess
#49Historical, Romance, FantasyThe drama tells the story of the female writer Hua Qingge entering her own novel world, transforming into the cannon fodder supporting female character. She initially thought that with the script in hand, she could turn the tide, but things went awry. She ended up in a love-hate relationship with the antagonist Ji Chu, and in fulfilling her mission as the protagonist's "mother", she...Our Interpreter
#50Romance, DramaLin Xi, a "magical girl" in the translation industry, reunites with her ex-boyfriend Xiao Yicheng. Eight years ago, in order to fulfill her mother's unfulfilled career dream, Lin Xi broke up with Xiao Yicheng and became a professional interpreter for the United Nations. Eight years later, Lin Xi is now the youngest chief interpretation expert and the "Queen of Performance" at Huasheng,...
