43. Kobai / The Rose Plum(紅梅)
Passage
“When I was your age,” he went on, “I used to meet Prince Genji at Court just as you are meeting Niou now. I shall never forget those days; it was just when he was at the height of his career. ”
Kobai feels affection for the current flowers and peoples, while also reminiscing about the era when Genji lived. It is a memory of a perfect days.
Summary
Kōbai, the son of a To No Chujo, is worried about his daughters' marriages. Among his three daughters, he wants his second daughter to marry Niou. But, Niou is pursuing a different daughter. She is wife's child from a previous relationship. Makibashira,Kōbai's wife, wishes for her daughter's happiness, but she hesitates because of her husband feelings.
Comment
Chapters 42 (Niou), 43 (Kobai), 44 (Bamboo River) are called the '3 Chapters of Niou.' They feature an ensemble cast of three families after the death of Genji. It gives you a feeling of peeking into the upper-class aristocratic society.