According to "Kojidan" (Talks of the Past) it had been laughed at by people as 'useless matter,' but when there was an abnormal infestation by bees in the imperial court, Munesuke coolly held out a loquat, which bees like very much, drinking its nectar and thus he calmed them down.
『古事談』ではそれを「無益な事」と人々から嘲笑されていたが、宮廷に蜂が大発生した際に宗輔だけが冷静に蜂の好物である枇杷を差し出したところ、蜂はその蜜を吸って大人しくなったと伝えている。