It was very likely for Nyoin -- who favored the youngest brother so much that she treated the elder brother's family harshly -- to make such a request at her last moment, and she might have gathered that Michinaga had become indifferent to Korechika who was no more competent ("Gonki" (FUJIWARA no Yukinari's diary) recorded that Michinaga requested the Emperor to restore Korechika his original title on July 5, 1000, the year before, only to infuriate the Emperor and gave up the request).
これはいかにも、末弟を偏愛するあまり兄一家に過酷な措置を取った女院の最期の望みらしく、これ以上は無力な存在でしかない伊周を見限っての道長の意も汲んでいる（『権記』によれば、この前年の長保2年5月25日に道長が天皇に伊周復位の奏上を行ったものの、天皇が激しく激怒して断念したと記録されている）。