In addition to the above strange behavior, Emperor Reizei had no maternal relationship with the regent, FUJIWARA no Saneyori, and Imperial Prince Tamehira, who was considered to be a powerful successor to the throne, had MINAMOTO no Takaakira as father-in-law; this inflamed the FUJIWARA clan (and became a foreshadowing of the Anna Incident), and consequently Emperor Reizei abdicated within just two years after his enthronement.
これらの奇行と当時の摂政だった藤原実頼と外戚関係を持たず、逆に有力な跡継ぎとされていた為平親王が伯父の源高明を舅とし、藤原氏を刺激した（安和の変の伏線となる）事等が僅か2年で退位する原因となった。