In August 1862, Yoshimasa was requested by Tadaka ICHIJO, Sadaijin (Minister of the Left), to 'receive the order of Imperial court and procure the state affairs' through a secret agent and also received an 'Imperial order to procure and devote the country' from the Imperial Court in October 1862, but Yoshimasa was caught in the middle of the Sabaku-ha (supporters of the Shogun) and the sonjo (advocating reverence for the Emperor and the expulsion of foreigners) party, and moreover, could not move due to illness.
文久2年（1862年）8月、慶政に左大臣・一条忠香より密使を通じて「朝命を拝し国事周旋せよ」との依頼あり、同年10月も朝廷より「周旋報国の勅命」を受けたが慶政は佐幕派と尊攘派の板挟みとなり、また病気も患っていたため動きが取れなかった。