It is said that although Hideyoshi saw into Takakage's mind, Hideyoshi accepted Takakage's adoption of Hideaki because he was moved by Takakage's loyalty to the Mori clan, or he thought that the Kobayakawa clan was still satisfactory despite its rank lower than the Mori clan.
秀吉は隆景の本心を見抜いたが、隆景の毛利氏を思う気持ちに心を動かされ、あるいは毛利氏に比べれば劣るものの小早川氏でも申し分ないとして、秀秋の入嗣を認めたといわれる。