She loved Genji's son, Kaoru, together with the Retired Emperor Reizei and since she did not have any sons herself, relied on him as a guardian ('Nioumiya') after Genji's death.
源氏の死後はその遺児薫を冷泉院と共に寵遇、息子代わりの後見として頼みにしていた（「匂宮」）。