Emperor (Emperor Kiritsubo) falls in love with Kiritsubo no Koi, a lower class court lady, and she bears him an Imperial prince, but she soon dies of a disease.
帝（桐壺帝）はそれほど身分の高い家の出ではない桐壺更衣を寵愛し皇子を儲けるが、更衣はやがて病死してしまう。