He ingratiated himself with Okitsugu TANUMA and adopted his son, Tadanori MIZUNO, which enabled him to regain the position of daimyo and assume the post of roju; however, he was also shrewd enough to maintain his position that he disinherited Tadanori as soon as Sadanobu MATSUDAIRA came into power.
田沼意次に取り入りその子水野忠徳を養子に迎えるなどして大名復帰や老中就任を果たしたが、松平定信が政権を握ると忠徳を廃嫡するなどその変わり身の早さで地位を守った。