Against this political backdrop, Moroie, though he was a third son, was treated as a legitimate son and was promoted to Gon Chunagon (a provisional vice-counselor of state) in 1179 when he was only eight years old.
そのような政治事情を背景に、師家は三男ながら正嫡の扱いを受けており、治承3年（1179年）にはわずか八歳にして権中納言に昇任する。