Ironically, Michitaka fell ill in a little while, and on April 16, with an intention of being succeeded by his legitimate son naidaijin Korechika, he appealed to Emperor Ichijo to grant him permission to resign nairan (an emperor's private inspector of all official documents) in favor of Korechika and to entrust Korechika with the political affairs.
だが、それから程無く、道隆は病に伏し、3月9日、一条天皇に請うて嫡子の内大臣伊周を内覧とし政務を委任し後継者にしようとした。