He rose to Chunagon (vice-councilor of state) in 891; however, he became Sanbon Shinno (the third-ranked Imperial Prince) as the first prince of Emperor Koko because it was decided that a brother-uterine of Emperor Uda who had already regained his position in the Imperial Family and ascended the throne in the same year.
寛平3年（891年）に中納言に進むが、同年に既に皇族復帰、即位していた宇多天皇の同母兄弟の皇族復帰が決定されて、光孝天皇第一皇子として三品親王に叙された。