Since he was the eldest son but born out of wedlock, Yoshikiyo gave his home in the Ashikagasho district to his younger paternal half-brother, Yoshikane, and served for Imperial Princess Muneko at Heian-kyo (the ancient capital of Japan in current Kyoto).
長男であったが妾腹のために、本拠の足利庄を嫡出である異母弟の義兼に譲って、自らは平安京において統子内親王に仕える。