The Cousin Miss Is Beautiful and Strong! She Refuses to Play Weak and Beg for Favor

[Mystery identity, powerful female lead + young lord of Beiming + fake cousins]

Both leads are each other's first and only love + two strong-willed leads + 1v1 + a gorgeous, seemingly delicate madwoman + clear-eyed realism + lighthearted + sweet romance, not too angsty

The pacing varies, sometimes fast, sometimes slow

…

Before her adoptive parents died, they gave Jiuchu a marriage contract and told her to go to Beiming. She had always been someone who dealt with problems head-on, and with her adoptive parents' killers still unavenged, how could she think about romance? But… things didn’t seem to be going as smoothly as she’d imagined.

…

On her way back to her sect, she rescued a handsome young man. He was so passionate toward her that he declared he would offer himself to her in marriage. But what Jiuchu wanted was power: immense authority that could put the world in her hands and open every door.

As for men, she had neither money nor time. Aside from a pair of fists that could take on the world, she had nothing to offer anyone.

…

The young lord of Beiming was powerful and influential, able to turn the clouds with a flick of his hand and bring on a storm with a wave. He was an elegant gentleman, as gentle as jade.

Jiuchu assumed her fiancé would be easy to handle once he saw her beauty. With his help, surely she could uncover the person behind everything?

Little did she know, he rejected the marriage contract outright, without a second thought.

…

The young lord, his hair already white despite his youth, smiled warmly. “You should go back, miss. I’m not one for marriage customs.”

…

[Seriously? He thinks one excuse about not wanting to marry is enough to fob her off? Who does he think Jiuchu is?]

She hid her tears, looking frail and vulnerable.

“Cousin, it’s fine if you won’t accept this marriage contract. Just help me find out who I am and who the real culprit is, and I’ll tear it up in front of you.”

…Little did she know, the tribulation of nine thunders was about to descend. He was willing to endure its bone-deep agony for her, and she regretted coming to Beiming…