Once it was arranged for Tokuko to become Cloistered Emperor Goshirakawa's adopted child, in 1171 she then entered into the court to become Chugu (the second consort of an emperor) to Emperor Takakura, who was eleven years old, while Tokuko was seventeen years old.
徳子をいったん後白河法皇の猶子となして形式を整えたうえで、承安元年（1171年）、17歳の徳子は11歳の高倉天皇の元に入内して中宮となる。