There was a theory that Sutokuin was distant from Kiyoko by giving deep affection to Hyoenosuke no Tsubone of the Nyobo (lady-in-waiting) (she was the daughter of Shinen with the rank Hoin (the highest rank in the hierarchy of Buddhist priests) and the adopted daughter of MINAMOTO no Yukimune with the title of Okura-kyo (Minister of the Treasury), and the real mother of Imperial Prince Shigehito), but this was not certain.
崇徳院は女房兵衛佐局（法印信縁女で大蔵卿源行宗の養女、重仁親王生母）を深く寵愛し、聖子とは疎遠であったという説があるが、これは的確でない。