Chapter 36 Summary

Eventually, the Third Princess suffers from birthing pains and delivers a boy who is named Kaoru. Genji observes all the ceremonies attending the birth of a son, but the Third Princess notices that he is cold toward her. To the Third Princess, it seems that Genji is unwilling to accept her or her child into his home, but Genji is stoic and she cannot determine exactly what is behind his frigid demeanor. When her father, the Suzaku emperor, comes to see her, she asks him to administer the vows that will allow her to become a nun. Of course, the news that the Third Princess has taken holy orders is the final disappointment for Kashiwagi and it pushes him even closer to death. Just before Kashiwagi passes away, he asks Yugiri to look to the needs of his wife, the Second Princess.

While...