Competing for Emperor's favor, the high priestess of Ise (Lady Plum Pavilion, later called Empress Akikonomu) and a daughter of Gon no Chunagon (Kokiden no Nyogo) are respectively supported by Genji and To no Chujo (now Gon no Chunagon), who was once his best friend.
冷泉帝の後宮に時めく斎宮女御（梅壷女御。後の秋好中宮）と権中納言の姫君（弘徽殿女御）は、それぞれかつての親友であった源氏と頭中将（今は権中納言）が後盾となって寵を競っている。