code: def _read_file(path):
      '''
      Reads and returns the contents of a file
      '''
      try:
          with salt.utils.files.fopen(path, 'rb') as rfh:
              lines = salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(rfh.read()).splitlines()
              try:
                  lines.remove('')
              except ValueError:
                  pass
              return lines
      except Exception:
          return [f _read_file(path):
      '''
      Reads and returns the contents of a file
      '''
      try:
          with salt.utils.files.fopen(path, 'rb') as rfh:
              lines = salt.utils.stringutils.to_unicode(rfh.read()).splitlines()
              try:
                  lines.remove('')
              except ValueError:
                  pass
              return lines
      except Exception:
          return []
docs: Reads and returns the contents of a file