Promoted to post of Gon Chunagon (a provisional vice-councilor of state) without going through the post of Sangi (royal adviser), and took Sachiko (eight years his senior) daughter of FUJIWARA no Saneyoshi as his wife.
翌年参議を経ずに権中納言に昇進して、8歳年上の藤原実能の娘・幸子を娶った。