However, MINAMOTO no Masanobu, who was the father of Rinshi, had a position that was one rank higher than him and once allowed Michinaga to live in his Tsuchimikado-dono Palace; Rinshi was considered to be the legal wife and Akiko his 'mistress' (entry on July 26, 1012 in "Shoyuki" (The Diary of FUJIWARA no Sanesuke)).
だが、倫子の父・源雅信は当時現職の一上であり、かつ道長を自分の土御門殿に居住させたことにより倫子が嫡妻とみなされ、明子は「妾妻」とみなされていた（『小右記』長和元年6月29日条）。