He has been bullied. Zhang, they would say, you're not Roman. You're Asian. You don't belong. Go away.
And then he would say, I'm just as Roman as you are.
Really? They would reply. You haven't even been claimed yet.
He turned away then, but not now. He is strong and Roman. He is better than them, and he will not stoop so low. He will show them just how Roman he is. Romans aren't cowards.
So they beg forgiveness from their praetor, and he grants it. You do not fight hate with hate, he thinks. You fight with love.