He shared the positions of Kurodo no to and Sangi with his elder paternal half-brother, Saneyuki, but Michisue had superiority due the policy of Chakusho-no-jun (where children of a legal wife have precedence over the children of concubines) that had been established by his father, Kinzane.
蔵人頭、参議への補任はともに異母兄の実行と同時であったが、父公実があらかじめ定めていた嫡庶の順により通季が上首とされた。