A Girl Like Me Episode 22 Recap
> A Girl Like Me Recap
Distraught over Shi Feixian’s imprisonment, Xie Wanyu seeks out Ban Heng for a solution. Ban Heng suggests a simple yet challenging method that relies on the depth of her bond with Shi Feixian. Despite his skepticism about her resolve, Xie Wanyu pledges to do anything to save her friend. Ban Heng then reveals the crucial evidence: a copybook used by Xie Wanyu’s brother, Xie Chongjin, to imitate Count Cheng’an’s handwriting.
This revelation forces Xie Wanyu into a painful dilemma, torn between her family loyalty and her deep friendship, especially with Shi Feixian’s sentencing looming the very next day. Accompanied by Shi Jin, Ban Hua visits Shi Feixian in prison. Initially, Shi Feixian is bitter, assuming Ban Hua delights in her misfortune.
Ban Hua sincerely apologizes for her past impulsiveness and accusations, then proposes that Shi Feixian become her witness to expose the true forger of the letter and clear her name. Shi Feixian is stunned, having believed Count Cheng'an truly admired her and wrote the letter himself. Shi Jin interjects, confirming Rong Xia's engagement to Ban Hua and that the letter is indeed a forgery. Shi Feixian laments the destruction of her dignity and dreams.
Ban Hua, while asserting her love for Rong Xia, emphasizes that the true culprit remains at large and both Shi Feixian and Count Cheng’an are unjustly imprisoned. Challenged by Ban Hua to prove she is not just a weak victim, Shi Feixian, refusing to be outdone, agrees to cooperate. Ban Hua then presents evidence, contrasting Count Cheng'an's authentic handwriting with the forged letter, revealing Xie Chongjin as the one who framed Shi Feixian.
Although confused by Xie Chongjin’s motives, Shi Feixian agrees that her testimony in court the next day will bring him to justice. Shi Jin informs his grandfather, Shi Chonghai, about their alliance with Ban Hua to bring Xie Chongjin to justice. Shi Chonghai, feigning concern, says he will go to the palace but goes to the prison instead.
He tells a distraught Shi Feixian that her sister, Suyue, is about to be dethroned as Crown Princess for having angered the Emperor by interfering with court affairs on Shi Feixian's behalf. Furthermore, Shi Chonghai claims the Emperor intends to execute Shi Feixian, accusing her of seducing Jiang Luo to save the royal family’s reputation.
Despite Shi Feixian’s protests of innocence, Shi Chonghai insists that the only way to save her life and the Shi family’s future is for her to falsely confess to assassinating Duke Ban. This confession, he explains, would result in her exile to Xizhou instead of execution. Deeply disillusioned, Shi Feixian realizes her grandfather values the family's honor more than her life, bitterly comparing herself to a commodity while Ban Hua is a real person.
She consents to his plan and resigns herself to her fate. As an officer warns her about the finality of her confession, Shi Feixian, with a heavy heart, accepts her perceived destiny. Just as Shi Chonghai prepares to force Shi Feixian’s handprint onto the confession, Ban Hua and Shi Jin burst in. Ban Hua intervenes, asserting Shi Feixian's innocence. When she demands Shi Jin produce their evidence, his silence confirms her suspicion: Shi Chonghai has taken it.
She confronts Shi Chonghai, accusing him of sacrificing his granddaughter for personal gain. He angrily dismisses her accusations. Ban Hua, expressing her profound disappointment in him, defiantly declares her intent to uncover the truth, asserting that justice will prevail regardless of the powerful figures involved. Later, in a conversation with Rong Xia, Ban Hua laments Shi Feixian’s unjust fate and reflects on the corrupt nature of the capital.
She confesses her internal struggle, acknowledging the prevalence of deception but expressing her reluctance to become like those she condemns. She wonders if her ideals are misplaced in such a world, but Rong Xia reassures her, affirming her integrity and offering his continued support. Following the prison confrontation, Jiang Luo is placed under house arrest, informed that his father, the Emperor, knows of his involvement with Shi Feixian and expects his compliance.
The Emperor then abolishes the system of dual prime ministers, elevating Shi Chonghai to the sole position of Prime Minister. Concurrently, Shi Jin is promoted to Commander of the Imperial Guards. Count Xie protests Shi Chonghai's appointment, leading to a heated, albeit humorous, exchange with Duke Ban, but the Emperor remains resolute. Meanwhile, Shi Feixian is exiled to Xizhou. Shi Jin, desperate, kneels outside the palace, pleading for the Emperor to overturn the decision, but is denied an audience.
Shi Chonghai arrives and furiously confronts Shi Jin, slapping him and admonishing his grandson for his defiance, warning that his actions risk the entire Shi family's demise. Shi Jin maintains his sister's innocence and his willingness to bear the consequences. Later, as Shi Feixian is led away, Xie Wanyu approaches with supplies, but a bitter Shi Feixian rejects her, disowning her as a sister.
Rong Xia and Ban Hua arrive to bid farewell to Shi Feixian, who is surprised that Ban Hua is the only one to see her off. Maintaining her pride, Shi Feixian declares herself still "the noblest lady in Daye" and challenges Ban Hua not to squander the title she temporarily "bestows" upon her. Before departing, Shi Feixian asks Rong Xia if he ever harbored any feelings for her.
Rong Xia, holding Ban Hua’s hand, unequivocally states that his heart has always belonged solely to Ban Hua. As Shi Feixian is led away, Ban Hua expresses profound sorrow for women like her, forced to sacrifice for their families' honor. Rong Xia comforts her, promising to ensure Shi Feixian’s safety and to hold Jiang Luo accountable. Elsewhere, Shi Jin attempts to intercept the convoy, but his grandfather, Shi Chonghai, blocks him, threatening to die if Shi Jin defies him.
Meanwhile, Xie Wanyu desperately pleads with her brother, Xie Chongjin, to rescue Shi Feixian. He refuses, revealing his machinations were aimed at securing Xie Wanyu's position as Crown Princess. Heartbroken, Xie Wanyu accuses him of selfish manipulation, asserting she is merely a pawn. While Rong Xia dispatches Du Jiu to apprehend Xie Chongjin, Jiang Luo impatiently awaits him at his residence. His wait is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Ban Hua, who defiantly confronts him.
She taunts his confined status and leverages his affection for Shi Feixian, revealing that Xie Chongjin orchestrated her downfall and has likely sent assassins to kill her on the road to exile. Ban Hua, claiming to have arranged for Shi Feixian's protection, proposes a deal. She demands Jiang Luo cease all actions against the Ban family, abandon his pursuit of the throne, show her proper respect, and sign a humiliating letter of repentance for the attack on her father.
Desperate to ensure Shi Feixian's safety, Jiang Luo reluctantly signs. Simultaneously, Rong Xia confronts the captured Xie Chongjin, revealing his detailed understanding of Xie’s schemes: the forgery, the hired assassination attempt on Duke Ban, all designed to elevate Jiang Luo and Xie Wanyu. When Xie Chongjin feigns ignorance about the assassins sent after Shi Feixian, Rong Xia threatens to expose the forgery to Jiang Luo, which would ruin the Xie family.
Rong Xia then brings up the mysterious death of his butler, implying Xie Chongjin’s Fude House was involved, and presses him for information. The convoy transporting Shi Feixian is ambushed by bandits. Suddenly, Akeqi and his men, sent by Ban Hua to protect her, arrive and engage the attackers. Despite their efforts, Shi Feixian is cornered. In a desperate plea, she reveals her identity as the Prime Minister’s granddaughter, but the bandits are unmoved, attributing her fate to "bad luck."
Facing imminent humiliation at the hands of her captors and before Akeqi can reach her, Shi Feixian chooses a tragic end, resolutely throwing herself off a cliff. Her final words express a profound wish for a simple life in her next existence, free from the machinations of power.
