However, he was taken into confidence as a close aide of Emperor Saga, and in 816, he was appointed to Sangi at the age of only 32 and in 821, appointed to Gonchunagon (,provisional vice-councilor of state) and even after Emperor Saga abdicated the throne and Emperor Junna acceded, he was promoted to Chunagon (vice-councilor of state) in 823 and advanced his career, and although he resigned the post temporally to serve closely the Retired Emperor Saga, he was promoted to Dainagon (chief councilor of state) in 828.
しかし、彼自身は嵯峨天皇の側近として重用され、弘仁7年（816）、32才の若さで参議に、同12年権中納言となり、嵯峨天皇が譲位して淳和天皇が即位した後も、同14年中納言へと順調な出世を遂げ、同年11月、嵯峨上皇に近侍するため中納言を辞すものの、天長5年（828年）には大納言に昇進している。