Aware of the difference in status, Chujounokimi, the mother of Ukifune, arranged her marriage with a lieutenant. For she thought that Kaoru was belonging to the higher status. On the other hand, the husband, the governor of Hitachi, loved his real daughter rather than his stepdaughter Ukifune. As he was a wealthy man, he collected some pieces of lacquer and inlay for his daughter. A teacher of lute and koto was summoned to give her lessons, which was unusual. Each time the daughter mastered one piece, he buried the teacher in gifts of gratitude. On a pleasant evening, when the teacher and daughter played in a concert, he rejoiced in tears at hearing them.

Finding Ukifune to be the stepdaughter of the governor, the lieutenant changed his mind and would have liked to marry off his real daughter. For he needed substantial support from the governor. Delighted with his change of mind, the governor and a nurse adored his real daughter. The room that had been appointed for Ukifune was provided as a guestroom. While the governor entertained the lieutenant, Ukifune had to withdraw to an inner room.

Leaving Ukifune to the place of Nakanokimi, the mother, Chujounokimi, went back to the house of the governor. Then Niou accidentally passed the room and found her there. She was very pretty indeed. He caught her hands, which were holding a fan. He approached her asking, "What is your name?" Ukifune was horrified and wondered whether this man might be Kaoru who was looking for her. Nothing further happened, but it was an unforgettable encounter for Niou.

When Chujounokimi returned to her house, she found the lieutenant come to see his wife. She had already seen him at the Nijou mansion. He was the one who had behaved clumsily in front of Prince Niou. Therefore, he looked stupid one trying to show himself off as a man of taste. "What a miserable person he did look beside the prince. I wonder how he is as a poet." She thought she would put him to the test. She sent him a poem about a bush clover.