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Jason Pym
Jason Pym asked Alice Poon:

Hi Alice, in Green Phoenix I was wondering about the relationship between Dorgon and Bumbutai. How much historical evidence is there for it? Do the letters between them exist? Did Bumbutai really go to the retreat in the Kharahotun Mountains when she was 70, the site of Dorgon’s death? I know you said in the afterword there was no evidence for the marriage, I just wondered about the other parts of their relationship.

Alice Poon Hi, Jason, thank you for your questions. As I mentioned in the notes, although there are no official court documents to prove the marriage, there is enough literary evidence like poems and folklore that told about their marriage after Shunzhi's enthronement in the Forbidden City. As for Bumbutai's visit to the Kharakhotun Mountains and other romance details, they are instances of my taking artistic license.
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A Goodreads user
A Goodreads user asked Alice Poon:

I would like to see more biographies of important historical figures in Chinese history. I would even like to read a good, well written biography of Chairman Mao. Are they out there and I am just not aware of them?

Alice Poon
Alice Poon asked Alice Poon:

On April 30, 2020 I was interviewed by Matteo Damiani, founder of the China Underground media website (a news and culture website related to China's past and present). One of his questions was: "Why did you choose this particular historical period?"

Alice Poon
Alice Poon asked Alice Poon:

What is the difference between a courtesan and a prostitute? What was it that made the late-Ming courtesan culture so unique?

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