《宋史·列传·卷四十三》
仁宗曾召中书省和枢密院二府在资政殿回答问题。仁宗出示手诏策问时事，宋庠说： 两汉时回答策问，本是引进居于岩穴草莱的隐士，如今把政府官员放在与那些考生相比的位置上，这不是用来尊敬朝廷的，请求到中书省一起商议逐条上奏。 当时陈执中任宰相，他没有学问缺少礼乐典章制度方面的文化知识，所以夏竦替仁宗策划此计谋，意图想使陈执中困窘。
帝尝召二府对资政殿，出手诏策以时事，庠曰： 两汉对策，本延岩穴草莱之士，今备位政府而比诸生，非所以尊朝廷，请至中书合议条奏。 时陈执中为相，不学少文，故夏竦为帝画此谋，意欲困执中也。
Emperor Renzong once summoned the two houses of the Secretariat and the Privy Council to the Zizheng Hall for questioning. When Emperor Renzong showed his handwritten imperial edicts to question, Song Xiang put forward: In the two Han Dynasties, it was a common practice to ask for responses to questions to summon hermits living in caves or hills. Comparing current government officials to those candidates (of the former practice) is not to respect the imperial court. I request that I go to the Secretariat to discuss the matter and then submit a response. At that time, Chen Zizhong was a prime minister. He was not knowledgeable and lacked learning in rites and music as well as regulations and systems. Therefore, Xia Song planned this to embarrass Chen Zizhong.