A young and bright girl Mahiro in Japan's Heian period grows up in a poor, minor aristocratic family. Her father's only wish is that she were a boy, so that Mahiro could put her talent to use. Mahiro faces a major loss, however nobody could guess that one day, this little girl would become Murasaki Shikibu.

6 years after her mothers death and Mahiro, now a young woman, comes of age. Meanwhile in the Imperial palace, Akiko, who has given the Emperor a son, has become forgotten. Until one day, the Emperor reveals how he truly feels. Akiko's father hatches a plan for his abdication, and Mahiro has a fateful encounter.

Mahiro's younger brother, Nobunori, sets out to try find Saburo. Meanwhile, Mahiro's father sends Mahiro to engage in poetry meetings with the Minister of the Left's daughter, who is of marriage age, in hopes of finding out if she is to marry the Emperor or the Crown Prince.