The oldest surviving son of the late To-no-Chujo was now the Lord Inspector. He wanted Niou to marry with his second daughter. Fortunately, Niou favored his son who was born of the Lord Inspector and his second wife Makibashira. He had never forgotten the pleasure, which the late Genji had given him, when he was a pageboy. He broke off a rose plum branch and handed it to his boy with a poem, "A purposeful breeze wafts forth the scent of our plum. Will not the warbler be first to heed the summons?" But, the prince Niou was interested in the stepdaughter of Makibashira rather than in the second daughter.

Kaoru called on Tamakazura with a New Year’s greeting. She was in her chapel and invited him to join her. The plum on the eaves was sending forth its first buds and the warbler was still not quite able to sing. Something about his manner made the women want to joke with him, but his replies were brusque. Tamakazura reproved them for their bad manners saying, "Do not make fun of the prudent young man." Kaoru was not proud of his title, "Lord Proper." Kaoru was fond of the older daughter of Tamakazura who also wanted him for her husband.