In 729, the four brothers of Fujiwara slandered Nagayao, who had been promoted to sadaijin (minister of the left) as 'endangering the nation with the ways of the left' and forced him to commit suicide (an event known as Nagayao no Hen), grasping the reins of government.
729年（神亀6年）、左大臣にのぼった長屋王に対し藤原四兄弟は「左道によって国政を傾ける」と讒訴して、自殺に追いこみ（長屋王の変）、政権を手にした。