The Emperor Komei, who strongly sought kobu-gattai from the beginning, became increasingly dependant upon Nariyuki who was ordered to perform nairan (a preliminary inspection of official documents submitted from the Great Council of State to the Emperor) in October 1863 and, additionally, was promoted to Juichii Sadaijin (Junior First Rank, Minister of the Left) in January of the next year.
もとより公武合体を強く欲していた孝明天皇の信頼はますます篤く、同年9月には内覧を命じられ、さらに12月には従一位左大臣に昇進。