Simplify the following text for a Grade 13 native English-speaking person.
Original: Initially , the representatives of the four victorious powers hoped to exclude the French from serious participation in the negotiations , but Talleyrand managed to skillfully insert himself into `` her inner councils '' in the first weeks of negotiations .
Simplified: The four victorious powers hoped to exclude the French from participation in the negotiations , but Talleyrand managed to get into `` her inner councils '' in the first weeks of negotiations .