Name: Aoi-no-mae (葵前)
Birth/ Death: (Birth not recorded- 1180)
Appearance: Book 6 Episode 3
Bio:
A maid to a lady-in-waiting who served Emperor Takakura's principal consort, Kenreimon-in. Emperor Takakura fell in love with the low ranking Aoi, leading to an ill-fated romance similar to that of the Kiritsibu Emperor's attachment to a concubine in the opening of Tale of Genji. She was so loved by Emperor Takakura that others secretly liked called her "Empress Aoi".
Emperor Takakura decides he can no longer see her, but later writes her a poem that says he continues to love her. Aoi receives the message and replies with her own poem expressing her love for him and anguish at parting. She falls ill and later dies leaving Emperor Takakura longing for her.