Chapter 20 Summary

Genji sends notes to Princess Asagao in order to seduce her, but she will not have anything to do with him. Instead of the warm replies he desires, Genji receives very stiff, formal notes from the princess, showing that she has no intention of becoming another of his conquests. When she returns to her now-deceased father's palace in Momozono, Genji pays her a visit, but is jilted again. Then, finding himself turned down by a woman he hoped to sleep with, Genji lays awake in bed, disappointed by his failure. Princess Asagao's attendants all say that she should have given in to such a handsome and talented man as Genji.

Unfortunately, despite Genji and the princess's best efforts to keep his visits quiet, word gets out about his visit to Momozono and Murasaki hears of it. Though she is hurt by these new...