A Girl Like Me Episode 9 Recap
> A Girl Like Me Recap
Years ago, Rong Xia's father confronted a bedridden General Ban about the missing Tiger Tally. The General insisted it was lost during an assassination attempt and warned that with the Emperor's new and unstable reign, the tally falling into the wrong hands would be disastrous. He urged Rong Xia’s father to find the assassin instead. Shortly after, Rong Xia’s father was murdered.
In the present, Rong Xia recounts this to the Princess Royal, explaining how his mother’s investigation led to his brother's mysterious death and her own suicide by hanging, leaving him orphaned. The Princess Royal vehemently denies the Ban family's involvement. Rong Xia presses that all clues lead back to the Tiger Tally and demands an explanation for his parents' sake.
In response, the Princess Royal warns him to stop his calculated pursuit of Ban Hua, threatening to reveal his clandestine activities to the Emperor. Rong Xia counters by threatening to expose the Princess Royal's own hidden illness. Later, Rong Xia encounters Ban Hua, who confronts him about his cold demeanor. She declares that despite their arguments, she is willing to forgive him over the Longjing Cake incident, but from now on, all decisions regarding the birthday banquet will be hers.
Frustrated by his terse replies, she questions his famed etiquette. He then explains himself, confessing that it was his mistake to ever involve her or her family. He states he has always been accustomed to being alone and promises to never trouble her again, leaving Ban Hua utterly bewildered. Inside the palace, Prince Luo's mood sours as he hears guests praising the Crown Prince's lavish banquet preparations.
When Ban Hua appears, she needles him by saying she was only trying to ward off his recent bad luck, a comment he doesn't appreciate after being forced to copy sutras. Meanwhile, Yan Zhen, son of Minister Yan, nearly stumbles at the mansion entrance but is caught by Ban Hua, leaving him stunned by her beauty. As the banquet's auspicious hour arrives, the Princess Royal is still absent.
A concerned Ban Hua sends two maids to secretly fetch Physician Zhang, her grandmother's regular doctor, while Ban Huai tries to cover for the delay by claiming his mother is still dressing. Unbeknownst to the guests, the Princess Royal has fallen into a coma. Physician Zhang examines her and provides a remedy, stressing that her condition must remain secret to prevent the Xie family from using it to their advantage.
Madam Chang, the Princess's attendant, notes the medicine's unusually dark color. Just as Ban Hua is about to administer it, Rong Xia appears and swiftly knocks the bowl from her hand. He reveals that the medicine is poisoned and urges her not to apprehend Physician Zhang yet, as that would alert the true culprit. Instead, they must follow the lead. In the main hall, Prince Luo challenges the Crown Prince over the Princess Royal's absence.
As Ban Heng offers a bumbling, nonsensical excuse, the impatient Emperor decides to go to her chambers himself. Rong Xia quickly administers an antidote, and the Princess Royal awakens just in time to greet the Emperor, appearing perfectly fine. After the Emperor and Princess Royal proceed to the banquet, Rong Xia instructs his guard, Du Jiu, to follow the departing Physician Zhang.
Du Jiu also reports that a group of unidentified secret guards has infiltrated the mansion undetected by the Ban family's own security. Rong Xia orders him to monitor them and ensure they do not harm the Bans. The banquet resumes, with the Emperor presenting a laudatory text he wrote in his youth, a gesture to publicly affirm the Ban family's honored status.
The Crown Prince then gifts a myna bird, which unfortunately squawks "Long live the Crown Prince," a grave offense. Prince Luo fuels the fire, urging a full investigation, while Ban Huai gets into a shouting match with Xie Chongjin. Ban Hua and the Princess Royal skillfully de-escalate the situation, convincing the Emperor that the Crown Prince meant no harm.
The festivities are interrupted by a riot outside, with commoners claiming they were injured fighting over gold foil distributed by the Ban family. An official, Mei Shengguan, presents a petition signed by the public, accusing the Bans of extravagance and corruption. Prince Luo supports the accusation, but Rong Xia steps forward with detailed account books, proving the banquet was under budget.
He further explains that Ban Hua used the surplus funds, plus a large sum of her own money, to build shelters for the homeless. He suggests the crowd may be there to offer thanks, not protest. Shi Jin arrives with the captured ringleaders, confirming the riot was instigated. Ban Hua tearfully pleads for her family's name to be cleared.
Pleased with their benevolence, the Emperor rewards the family with 500 taels of gold, which Ban Hua accepts on behalf of the homeless, and orders Mei Shengguan to be flogged and stripped of his rank. Later that evening, Ban Hua finds Rong Xia, admitting she is confused by his actions but trusts him.
She expresses a hope that he will one day feel safe enough to be open with her, declaring that he is one of the few people in the entire state she truly cares for. A weary Rong Xia simply excuses himself. Alone, Ban Hua's maid brings her Rong Xia's gift for the Princess—a simple box of pastries.
Seeing how modest it is, Ban Hua dismisses the idea that the sophisticated Rong Xia could be the "man in black" who has been causing trouble. Convinced Prince Luo is the real culprit behind the riot and a previous theft attempt, she dispatches her guards, who find Prince Luo and strip him of his outer robes in the street, leaving him humiliated and enraged.
Elsewhere, Minister Yan scolds his son, Yan Zhen, for wanting to defend the Ban family, warning him that the Bans are inherently wicked. Meanwhile, Xie Chongjin meets with Prince Luo, assuring him that the Crown Prince has lost the Emperor's favor after the day's events. He advises the prince to bide his time and win the Emperor's trust, promising to handle the political schemes and vowing that his sister will become Empress when Luo ascends the throne.
At his family's ancestral tablets, Rong Xia expresses remorse for not having yet avenged his family. He explains to his attendant that he chose not to use the poisoned medicine to force a confession from the Princess Royal because manipulating an innocent person like Ban Hua would make him no different from his parents' murderers. He vows to find justice on his own terms.
Shortly after, Xie Chongjin visits Rong Xia, claiming the Xie family is innocent of the crimes against his father and that the Yan family is the true perpetrator. To prove his point, he argues his own father lacks the cunning for such a plot and hands Rong Xia a letter.
