The Legend of Qin: Qin Shi Guan

There are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's hearts.

I hope you can find the Legend of Qin you envision in this book.

History is its bones, art its wings. May Chinese civilization flourish for a hundred generations., The Mystery

One female lead, not a power fantasy. The plot is fictionalized and set against a historical backdrop. If that's not your thing, don't read.