In 884, Mototsune was trying to find a way to remove the Emperor, so he approached Prince Tsunesada, who had been made Haitaishi (defunct Prince) at the time of Emperor Nimmyo presumably to sound him out as to whether he would be interested in acceding to the throne, but the Prince had already taken the tonsure to become a monk, and refused.
元慶8年（884年）、基経は天皇の廃立を考え、仁明天皇のときに廃太子された恒貞親王に打診したが、既に出家していた親王から拒否された。