Fujiwara no Teishi

Her father died in an epidemic that swept through the capital and was succeeded as regent by his rival, her uncle Fujiwara no Michinaga, and her brothers Korechika and Takaie were involved in a scandal that led to their banishment.

The loss of both her father and her brothers greatly weakened the security of Teishi's position in court; a fire at Nijo Mansion also left her virtually homeless.

[2] As recounted in The Pillow Book, she was obliged to move to the home of Taira no Narimasa, whose house and gate were significantly below her high rank as a member of court and thus humiliating.

Per the account of the Eiga Monogatari, as her brothers were taken away from the palace, Teishi, who was pregnant, picked up a pair of scissors and cut her hair in an attempt to become a Buddhist nun, although this was not considered religiously valid as it was done by her own hand.

[2] However, when she had returned to the palace after giving birth, the new regent, Teishi's uncle, had made his daughter, Fujiwara no Shōshi, the second consort of the Emperor, and secured the title Empress for her as well.

However, Shōshi's lady in waiting wrote the famous Tale of Genji, which proved to have more impact on Heian society, ultimately promoting her to the rank of Empress as well.