A Girl Like Me Episode 1 Recap
> A Girl Like Me Recap
In the early autumn of the eighteenth year of Daye Zhenwu, the Ban family was abuzz with preparations for the wedding of their eldest daughter, Ban Hua, to Xie Qilin. While musicians struggled with their notes, Ban Huai, Ban Hua's father, meticulously oversaw the arrangements. Ban Hua herself was a renowned trendsetter in the capital, celebrated for her striking looks and generosity.
In contrast, the groom, Xie Qilin, was ordinary in appearance and talent, leading many to wonder if the wedding would even happen. Amidst the preparations, Ban Hua awoke from a peculiar dream in which she heard Xie Qilin declare he would never marry her, only to realize the groom at the altar was a stranger. Shortly after, Ban Hua’s brother, Ban Heng, received an arrow with a letter from the Xie family, announcing their intention to break off the engagement.
A furious Ban Hua rode her horse through the capital's streets, causing a stir. She stopped at a spot she recognized from her dream and saw Xie Qilin with a woman named Yun. When Ban Hua approached, Xie Qilin drew his sword, reiterating his refusal to marry her. Unfazed, Ban Hua lashed her whip near his feet, startling him into dropping his weapon.
She coolly stated that she had no affection for him and that the Xie family had begged for the union. After Yun knelt and pleaded for Xie Qilin's safety, Ban Hua scattered silver notes on the ground, calling it a thank-you gift for revealing Xie Qilin's true nature. This entire scene was observed by Count Cheng’an, Rong Xia, known as the most distinguished gentleman in Daye. Ban Hua noticed him as well, finding him strangely familiar.
Rong Xia's bodyguard, Du Jiu, worried that Ban Hua had taken an interest in his master, tried to shield his face. While Du Jiu found Ban Hua fierce and rude, Rong Xia was intrigued, finding her amusingly different from other women. Upon returning home, Ban Hua asked her parents if they had ever dreamed of future events, but they dismissed it as a sign of her distress over the broken engagement.
Undeterred, she instructed her handmaids, Rocky and Softy, to dress her in splendid attire for a chrysanthemum banquet, where her outfit was immediately sketched by onlookers for local tailors to replicate. At the banquet, Xie Wanyu, Xie Qilin's sister, taunted Ban Hua about the broken engagement. After a brief mediation by Shi Feixian, the Right Prime Minister’s granddaughter, the taunts continued in the presence of Princess Anle.
In a moment of bravado, Ban Hua falsely declared she was already engaged to Count Cheng’an, unaware that Rong Xia himself had just arrived with a gift for the princess and overheard her. To Ban Hua's mortification, Rong Xia politely stated he did not recall their supposed meeting, leaving her deeply embarrassed. Furious, Ban Hua left, but quickly turned back, unwilling to let them have the last laugh.
She encountered Rong Xia again and berated him for his lack of chivalry, even misquoting a proverb. Rong Xia remained composed and apologetic, eventually yielding the path, which only led Ban Hua to call him a "dull goose." Later, Rong Xia stood before his parents' memorial tablets, reaffirming his commitment to uncovering the truth behind his family's extermination. He revealed that getting close to the Ban family was a strategic part of his plan for justice.
Meanwhile, Ban Huai and Ban Heng led a group to the Xie Mansion, pelting it with eggs and demanding to see Xie Qilin. Hiding inside, Count Xie eventually ordered his guards to fight them off. Ban Hua awoke from another disturbing dream, this time of her family's mansion being confiscated and her relatives arrested. She tried to warn her family, describing how she escaped while they were captured.
She also told them of another premonition from a different dream—that Xie Qilin would go blind. Her family dismissed her fears, convinced that dreams are the opposite of reality and that no one would dare harm them with the Princess Royal, Ban Hua's grandmother, as their protector. At court, Emperor Yunqing questioned Count Xie about an injury on his forehead. Count Xie blamed Ban Huai for attacking his home and smashing the "Loyal Family" plaque, a gift from the Emperor.
However, Rong Xia testified that the Xie family had broken the engagement first, damaging Ban Hua’s reputation and making the Ban family's anger understandable. The Emperor accepted this and did not punish Ban Huai. Subsequently, the Princess Royal sent a carriage of gifts to the Ban Mansion, reaffirming her influence. Rong Xia's investigation also uncovered that Ban Hua's grandfather, the old General Ban, had been poisoned years ago, hinting at a larger conspiracy possibly involving the Tiger Tally.
Following these events, an imperial decree was issued, stripping Xie Qilin of his academic honors and forbidding him from taking future exams, leaving his father stunned. Still troubled by her dream, Ban Hua was reluctantly coaxed by Ban Heng to visit a new tea house. In reality, he was following their parents' instructions to take her to Rong Xia's mansion to express their gratitude. Ban Hua initially refused to enter, but eventually relented. Upon seeing Rong Xia, she couldn't help but inwardly admit that, despite her annoyance, he was as handsome as his reputation claimed.
