Among the Mori clan, Ekei was familiar to Takakage KOBAYAKAWA, who was the key figure in the pro-Hideyoshi group; however, after Takakage's death he was opposed to Hiroie KIKKAWA, a central figure in the Mori clan, just as the Kobayakawa clan was.
恵瓊は毛利一族の中では親秀吉派の中心であった小早川隆景に近かったが、隆景が死去すると小早川氏と並ぶ毛利氏の支柱であった吉川広家と対立した。