You Erjie is a character in Dream of the Red Chamber. Wikidata uses You Erjie as her name and also lists You Shi. It does not give a different personal name, so the title stays You Erjie.[1]
In the novel
She and You Sanjie were daughters brought by Madam You's stepmother, old Mrs You. Opera often pairs them as the two You sisters. The Chinese Wikipedia describes You Erjie as sentimental, gentle and beautiful: careless in conduct before her marriage, but loyal once she was married to Jia Lian. Jia Lian secretly took her as a second wife and housed her outside the Rong mansion. Ping'er mentioned this to Wang Xifeng without meaning to. While Jia Lian was away, Wang Xifeng brought You Erjie into the household. Outside, she used Zhang Hua, the former fiancé whose engagement had already been broken, to damage You Erjie's name and bring a lawsuit. Inside, she was outwardly kinder, while Qiutong was set to harass You Erjie, meals were withheld, and a quack doctor destroyed a nearly formed child. Under that pressure You Erjie swallowed gold and died. When Jia Lian returned he found almost nothing left of her property. Wang Xifeng also used Lady Jia's words to keep You Erjie from being buried in the family temple. Ping'er later paid the funeral from her own savings.[2]
Basic facts
- Name: You Erjie[1]
- Description: a character in Dream of the Red Chamber[1]
- Appears in: Dream of the Red Chamber