A Girl Like Me Episode 7 Recap
> A Girl Like Me Recap
While hiding in the woods from Prince Luo's searching guards, Ban Hua is overcome by flower pollen and is about to sneeze. To silence her, Rong Xia impulsively kisses her. Just as Prince Luo’s guards draw near, Rong Xia pushes her out of their hiding spot. Prince Luo discovers Ban Hua, demanding to know why she is there.
Ban Hua claims she was hunting and snagged her clothes, but when he remains suspicious, she resorts to her usual chaotic antics, accusing him of bullying her. Prince Luo, losing his patience, draws his bow and threatens to kill her, which triggers a flash of Ban Hua's prophetic dream. At that critical moment, Rong Xia emerges, explaining that he and Ban Hua were hunting together and she had simply run off too quickly.
Since Prince Luo believes he will need Rong Xia for his future plans, he chooses to let them go. After Prince Luo departs, a fuming Ban Hua confronts Rong Xia. She accuses him of taking advantage of her, demanding to know why he didn't just cover her mouth with his hand instead of kissing her so tightly. Rong Xia explains that his hands were occupied—one with his bow and the other held by her.
Despite his logical explanations, Ban Hua remains convinced he was simply attracted to her, labeling him "shameless and indecent." Rong Xia, in turn, questions her "improper thoughts," suggesting she was the one who misinterpreted a desperate act for something more. He advises her to forget the incident and leave quickly before Prince Luo returns. News of the incident reaches Xie Chongjin, who is pleased to see the two princes at odds and resolves to fuel their conflict.
Meanwhile, Rong Xia deduces that Prince Luo's intended assassination attempt will likely occur during the upcoming archery event inside the palace, as a large-scale attack outside would be too reckless. Later, at the banquet, Ban Hua approaches Prince Luo with a toast, feigning an apology for their earlier confrontation. Prince Luo, however, demands she drink an entire pot of wine as penance. When Shi Jin attempts to intervene, his father, Prime Minister Shi, stops him.
Rong Xia then steps in and drinks the wine on Ban Hua's behalf, claiming she is a bad drinker and shouldn't spoil His Majesty's banquet. Prince Luo tries to press the issue, but His Majesty intervenes, telling his son to drop the matter. During the archery contest, His Majesty presents Crown Prince Zhang with a golden bow, symbolizing his future responsibilities. In a shocking move, Prince Luo snatches the bow from the Crown Prince, intending to use it.
His shot is meant to be a signal to his hidden assassins, but to his bewilderment, nothing happens. Unbeknownst to him, his men have already been neutralized by Du Jiu on Rong Xia's orders. Frustrated and confused, Prince Luo challenges Ban Hua, who had also tried to grab the bow, to an archery contest. Rong Xia, feigning drunkenness, volunteers to compete in her place.
He makes a spectacle of himself, fumbling with the bow and claiming he knows nothing about archery. Ban Hua, seeing his predicament, steps forward and guides his hands, helping him successfully hit the target. His Majesty, witnessing Ban Hua's skill, is fondly reminded of her grandfather, General Ban, who had also taught him archery. Impressed and moved by the memory of General Ban's loyalty, His Majesty publicly bestows upon Ban Hua the title "Commandery Princess Fule."
Later, in private, His Majesty slaps Prince Luo for his public disrespect and for undermining the Crown Prince. He orders him to kneel in front of the Crown Prince's Hall until noon the next day, deepening Prince Luo's resentment. That night, as Du Jiu carries a still-intoxicated Rong Xia home, he reports that the three assassins they captured all committed suicide by poison, leaving no clues.
In her own chambers, Ban Hua is unable to sleep, her mind replaying the moment Rong Xia kissed her. The next morning, Ban Hua sketches a new detail from her dream: the man in black has a distinctive scar on his chest. She dismisses Rong Xia as a suspect, reasoning that he cannot shoot an arrow and attributing his recent success entirely to her guidance.
Her new plan is to find a way to undress potential usurpers to check for the scar, starting with Prince Luo at her grandmother's upcoming birthday banquet. Elsewhere, Prince Luo, having knelt all night, defiantly refuses the Crown Prince's offer of assistance. The Crown Prince later expresses his feeling of inadequacy to His Majesty, who sternly reminds him of the responsibilities of a future ruler. Shortly after, Ban Hua proposes to personally organize her grandmother's birthday celebration.
His Majesty agrees, placing the Crown Prince in charge and assigning Rong Xia to assist, amusedly citing the "chemistry" he observed between them during the archery contest. Upon hearing of the grand banquet, Prime Minister Shi sees an opportunity. He plans to obtain the guard deployment map for the Princess Royal's residence, intending to replace her guards with his own men and search the estate for the Tiger Tally.
Later, as Ban Hua leaves the imperial hall, she runs into Rong Xia. Still feeling awkward about their intimate moments, she quickly flees. Shortly after, she encounters Prince Luo, who taunts her about her past broken engagements. Provoked, Ban Hua lunges at him, trying to tear his robes open to see the scar. A frantic Prince Luo clings to a pillar, crying for help as Rong Xia arrives to mediate.
He subtly advises the prince to compose himself to protect his reputation, but Ban Hua refuses to let go. Deliberately messing up her own appearance to appear as the victim, she declares she will drag the disheveled Prince Luo to His Majesty for judgment.
