Then when Emperor Shirakawa acceded the throne in 1072, Gosanjo made the younger brother Imperial Prince Sanehito the Crown Prince, and Gosanjo, who retired as Emperor the next year soon after Sukehito was born, became very ill in bed and repeatedly left his will that Sukehito, the next younger brother (who has the right to succeed the position) be the Crown Prince after Imperial Prince Sanehito acceded the throne.
そこで1072年（延久4年）に白河天皇即位の際に実仁親王を皇太弟とし、翌年の輔仁誕生直後に太上天皇となっていた後三条が重態に陥ると、重ねて実仁親王が即位した後には、輔仁親王を皇太弟とするよう遺言した。